New speed record for sail car

British engineer Richard Jenkins sets a world record for a wind-powered car
31 March 2009

A new world land speed record for a wind-powered vehicle has been set by a British engineer.

Richard Jenkins, from Hampshire, recorded a speed of 126.1mph using his Greenbird car.

Jenkins has spent 10 years developing the 600kg carbonfibre composite vehicle ahead of it breaking the record on the dry plains of Ivanpah Lake, Nevada.

“It's great,” said Jenkins. “It's one of those things that you spend so long trying to do and when it actually happens, it's almost too easy.”

The previous record had stood since 1999 when American Bob Schumacher set a speed of 116mph with his Iron Duck vehicle.

Mark Tisshaw

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