The SSC Tuatara is now the fastest car in the world! Following the controversy of the first 331mph run, SSC have returned to action and set a two-way average speed of 282.9mph at the Space Shuttle Landing Facility in Florida, eclipsing the previous record of the Koenigsegg Agera RS.

In October 2020, the SSC Tuatara took to a stretch of tarmac in Nevada to attempt a maximum speed run, which was released through video to be 331mph in one direction, and 301mph in the other, for a record shattering 316mph average. This feat was mind blowing but the discussed started soon thereafter as the video itself raised many questions as to whether what it showed matched what was being claimed.

These varied from the direct comparison to the previous record holding run by the Koenigsegg Agera RS on the exact same stretch which appeared to travel between known fixed medians on the road in less time, to questions over the gearbox within the car and whether it would have been possible to reach such a speed in 6th gear. With other topics raised from the tyre situation, to the painted lines on the road, no clear data and supporting video came forward and therefore Jerod Shelby announced that SSC would return to give it another shot.

In the months that have followed, SSC have undertaken a number of testing days with the Tuatara to really put it through the paces and build up the speed in the chase for a new world record. After numerous hurdles, that objective was met on 17th January, 2021 at Space Florida's Landing Launch Facility with Johnny Böhmer Proving Grounds, being driven by Larry Caplin, the owner of Tuatara #001. The exact run details for the two-way average of 282.9mph recorded by a 100Hz VBOX 3i system are as follows:

Northbound 279.7mph @ 14:38:09 PM local time
Southbound 286.1mph @ 15:28:51 PM local time

The full videos can be found with Driven Plus: https://youtu.be/bxBdzOr91Gk

There was never a question that the SSC Tuatara is an immensely capable car and was likely to be able to break the previous record, and even with that objective now met, the question becomes where is the limit given the clear acceleration the car was still matching when the markers for the breaking zone were reached. It is however fantastic and hugely respect worthy to SSC that they have gone out to show exactly what it can do and have made that happen.

Thank you to Robert for shooting behind the scenes and joining this video: http://youtube.com/robert_mitchell

Thanks for watching, Tim

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:25 The Controversy
03:16 Disclosure
04:50 Record Day Vlog
08:47 Northbound Run
12:02 Southbound Run
15:00 Afterthoughts
17:05 What's Next?
18:42 Conclusion

#SSC #Tuatara #WorldRecord

Subscribe: http://bit.ly/Shmee150YT
Website: http://www.shmee150.com
Shop: http://shop.shmee150.com
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/shmee150
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/shmee150