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A new two-seater world speed record has been set by the Hennessey Venom GT at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. The car reached a top speed of 270.49mph over a 3.22 mile distance.
It also reached 186mph in just 13.63 seconds, then managing 200mph in 14.51 seconds.
The record was set after 2.4 miles, giving the Venom GT 8/10ths of a mile - or 1000 feet - to come to a standstill. The carbon ceramic Brembo brakes ensured the car managed this without incident.
After the record was set Hennessey CEO Don Goldman said, "I knew the car had it in it, but it's a thrill to officially validate the Venom GT's 270mph speed.
"Venturing anywhere above 200mph, let alone 270mph, is not to be taken lightly, and we're elated to have accomplished our goal."
While the Venom GT is 3 mph faster than the Bugatti Veyron, it does not qualify as the world's fastest production car in the Guinness Book of World Records since it is not a series production car, but it is considered a modified Lotus Exige. An additional factor is that only 11 versions have been built to date.
However, the new record will be a bitter pill for Bugatti whose 267.856 mph Veyron held the title of the world's fastest street legal car.
The entire Venom GT production run is limited to 29, of which 11 have already been assembled.
Hennessey builds the car's engine in Sealy, Texas, then ships it to Silverstone in England, where final assembly and testing takes place.
The 1,200hp version costs US $1,000,000, while the more cost-conscious can pick up a 750hp model for US$600,000.
After making such a large purchase, any new owner of a Venom GT can take solace in the fact that great value car breakdown cover is available from startrescue.co.uk for a lot less.
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