The organizing party behind Formula E has announced a new Guinness Book record for the fastest indoor driving.
The race took place inside and around the ExCeL London expo center in London, UK, and was a part of the final stage of the current exposed-wheel EV racing season. The track was 2.09 kilometers (1.3 miles) long. Driving their GENBETA racer, Jake Hughes from the McLaren Racing Team and Lucas de Grassi from Mahindra Racing made a sharp 130-degree curve at roughly 40 km/h (25 mph) and put pedal to the metal on the 346-meter (0.21-mile) straight stretch that followed.
The drivers competed in a duel format that constitutes an official part of Formula E. Jake Hughes managed to set an unofficial record during his first training run on the track, hitting 214.8 km/h (133.4 mph). He then proceeded to improve upon his own record with 215.05 and 217.65 km/h (133.6 and 135.24 mph). During the race proper, he surpassed himself and managed 218.71 km/h (135.9 mph) – this result was entered into the Guinness Book of Records.
Lucas de Grassi, the winner of the first Formula E race in history and the most efficient Formula E driver on record so far, managed to hit 218.18 km/h (135.5 mph) during one of his trial runs. In the race itself, however, he fell behind Hughes with 217.65 km/h (135.2 mph).