The official land-speed record (measured over one mile) is 1,227.985 kilometers per hour (763.035 miles per hour) (Mach 1.020), which was established by Andy Green (UK) in Thrust SSC on 15 October 1997 in the Black Rock Desert, Nevada, United States.
Although Thrust SSC is the first automobile to break the sound barrier, it is rumored that the Budweiser Rocket Car, driven by Stan Barrett (US), attained 1,190.377 km/h (739.666 mi/h) at Edwards Air Force Base, California, USA, on 17 December 1979. The published speed of Mach 1.0106 was not sanctioned by the USAF as the Digital Instrument Radar was neither calibrated nor verified. The radar information was not generated directly by the vehicle, but rather by an operator using a television screen to target a dish.
Two Rolls-Royce Spey 202 jet engines that provide 222 kN (50,000 lb) of thrust power the vehicle.
Land speed, quickest automobile. Photograph of the Guinness World Records
THIS WEEK’S GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS: January 2nd, 2017.
Wednesday, January 3
Thursday, January 4
Friday, January 5
Friday, January 6th
ALL RECORDS FROM LAST WEEK: 26 – 30 December
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»Land speed set a Guinness World Record (fastest car)«