Volvo's new S60 T5 sports saloon has broken eighteen British Land Speed Records including the 24 hour record for highest average speed. This record, achieved in Production Car Class D (2000-3000cc) saw the
Prodrive prepared S60 T5 averaging 135.1 mph over the 24 hour period, and
it collected seventeen other records on the way.
The previous record, set in 1983, stood at 115.35 mph. All these records are subject to ratification by the RAC MSA, who timed and observed the
event at the High Speed Track at the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire.
Some of the other records broken include 5000 kilometres from a standing start, 50 miles from a standing start - at an impressive average speed of 148.59 mph - and the flying five kilometres, set by Anthony Reid, at 152.02 mph.
The car was run for two hours between driver changes, each pitstop including a refuel and a tyre change, mainly as a safety precaution because the outside front tyre is placed under considerable stress when cornering at speeds in excess of 150 mph.
The Volvo S60 was standard, except for safety mods which included a full roll-over cage, race petrol tanks to allow rapid refuelling in safety, and an exterior ignition cut-out switch.
Some of the interior was also removed to make way for the cage, and a race seat with extra buttressing and support padding in the head
area. The car was subject to surprising g-force around Millbrook's two mile, circular banked track, and in testing it was decided that the padding was needed to enable the drivers to rest their neck muscles during the two hour stints.
