AN Oxfordshire-based motorsport science company has broken the world electric land speed record with its “hypercar”.

The car, developed by Drayson Racing Technologies and driven by Lord Paul Drayson, achieved an average speed of 204.2mph over two runs at RAF Elvington in Yorkshire, smashing the previous record of 175mph.

Lord Drayson, who is an ex-Government science minister and founder of Drayson Racing Technologies, based in Kidlington, said: “We’ve shown that we are a world-beating company.

“It’s been such an exciting experience, I’m still buzzing. I think it’s going to take some time to set in.

“At one point it was close, because the timing system wasn’t working properly and we had to make the attempt twice.

“We had one more chance before it was going to get too dark and we did it.”

The hypercar was developed at the company’s headquarters at the Chancerygate Business Centre in Langford Lane, Kidlington.

Lord Drayson said the car’s record was important for the business and for Oxfordshire’s motorsport industry.

“All of the new technology in the car was developed in Oxfordshire,” he explained. “There is such a wealth of resources and expertise in the area, with great institutions like the university and Motorsport Valley – it’s a great community.

“Since breaking the record we’ve already received lots of phone calls.

“We had our whole Oxfordshire team there and everyone is really pleased.”

The record had been held by US firm Battery Box General Electric since 1974.

Drayson Racing Technologies took on the record attempt in partnership with Michelin, which provided the vehicle’s rubber tyres.

The rules also required the electric car to weigh less than 1,000 kilograms without the driver, a technical challenge at such speeds.

The company said that it would apply what it had learned from the experience to its upcoming role in Formula E.

It aims to race in the new Formula E championship, the first in motorsport to feature zero-emission cars. The eight-location series will begin in London and other selected venues include Rome, Miami, Beijing and Rio de Janeiro.

Drayson Racing Technologies is a research and development business that acts as a racing laboratory to pioneer the development of sustainable technologies in the challenging environment of motorsport.

Lord Drayson said that the next challenge for the team would be at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in two weeks’ time, where the hypercar will race in the famous hill climb.

“We already hold the record for electric cars, but now we’re aiming for the best time outright,” he said.

“I think our chances are good.

“We know we have a competitive car, but weather also always makes a big difference.

“The electric revolution is coming.”

HIGH PERFORMANCE

  • The car is the Lola Drayson B12/69 EV, developed from the B10 Le Mans Prototype (LMP) car, which was originally powered by a 5.5 litre bio-fuelled Judd engine but converted to pure electric drive.
  • It is Drayson Racing Technologies’ biggest green tech project to date.
  • It can go from 0-100mph in 5.1 seconds and weighs just under 1,000 kilograms.
  • Once fully charged the battery lasts for about 20 minutes.