Skip to main content

All at sea

A Finnish man was recently clocked by the country's police driving a car at over 329km/h (205.48mph), in the Baltic Sea.
February 22, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
A Finnish man was recently clocked by the country's police driving a car at over 329km/h (205.48mph), in the Baltic Sea. The man, a famous rally driver, drove a four-wheel-drive Bentley Continental Supersports convertible along a measured stretch of frozen sea to establish a new world ice driving speed record. Despite dangers from cross-winds and temperatures as low as -30°C, the driver was able to top his own previous record of 320km/h, which he set previously in a Bentley Continental GT. The four time world rally champion drove the lightly modified car along a 16.5km track set out on the 70cm thick ice to achieve the record, with speed measuring equipment set out by the Finland Traffic Police to establish the car's velocity. Two high speed runs were made in accordance with the regulations, to determine the average speed. The speed attempt was also monitored by officials to ensure that it met all the necessary criteria to be classed as an official record. The car was modified with winter tyres, a roll-cage, front and rear spoilers and a parachute to aid braking in emergencies. Apart from the tyres, the other features are not expected to become standard options for the Bentley range.

Related Content

  • Skidmarks
    December 15, 2017
    Our Skidmarks page is highly rated by readers. Your input could help make this page even more entertaining. If you come across any amusing road-related stories or pictures email me at [email protected]
  • Antarctic first for Cat and Finning
    January 21, 2013
    World famous explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes has teamed up with Finning engineers and two bespoke Cat D6N Track-Type Tractors for the first ever attempt to cross the Antarctic continent during the polar winter. Joining him on the journey will be Finning engineer Spencer Smirl from Canada, who was selected from a group of volunteers by Sir Ranuph Fiennes and his expedition crew. Smirl will be vital to the expedition, as he will be tasked with driving and maintaining the CAT D6N track-type tractor, which will be
  • Speed record
    July 19, 2012
    In the UK, a new speed record has been achieved with a Honda Formula 1 car clocking an eye-watering speed of 1,600km/h (1,000mph). However, this was a scale speed and was achieved using the popular Scalextric slot car racing set. For the record attempt a 60m stretch of track was used and this beat the previous scale speed record of 1,115km/h (697mph). The Scalextric cars are 1:32 scale so in fact, the slot car was travelling at a real 50km/h, itself no mean achievement.
  • Tunnelling challenge on German project
    June 13, 2012
    A massive construction project has been underway deep in the heart of the Schnecktal valley area in Germany. From the surface, though, you would never be able to tell. The majority of the work is underground, as a joint-venture team led by German contractor Wayss and Freytag Ingenieurbau builds the nearly 7km long Finne Tunnel. After a few years of tunnel boring operations, the contractor is at work finishing the interior of the tunnel, slipforming first the tunnel’s floor and then a walkway with its GOMACO