It is on the morning of Saturday 10 October and on state road number 10 in Nevada, near Pahrump (just outside Las Vegas), the powerful roar of a V8 biturbo heralds the rapid passage of a hypercar.
The car disappears on the horizon in the blink of an eye, then goes back in reverse and seems to be even faster.
At the wheel is the internationally renowned professional driver, Oliver Webb.
The instruments 'emit' their sentence: in the first passage they recorded a speed of 484.53 km / h) and in the second of 532.93 km / h, with an average of 508.73 km / h.
The records broken - the timekeepers confirm - are three: the 'Mile traveled on the public road at the highest speed', at 313.12 mph which corresponds to 503.92 km / h.
But also the fastest 'Kilometer launched on public road' at 517.16 km / h and, finally, the 'Maximum speed reached on public road' at 532.93 km / h. The car of these new records is an SSC Tuatara.
an almost unknown model and brand that have been able to pulverize the previous records thanks to an admirable constructive 'simplicity' and a great care of the aerodynamic aspects, without entering that world of hypertechnological complications that too often goes together with the production of these 'racing cars 'road.
This is the case of the engine, which the SSC (acronym meaning Shelby Super Cars but which has no reference to the famous driver Caroll Shelby) commissioned to Nelson Racing Engines.
It is a classic North American 8V, which in the processing requested by SSC delivers 1,750 Hp if eliminated with E85 methanol and 1,350 with petrol.
This powerful power is managed by a 7-speed CIMA computerized manual gearbox that works together with an AMT Automac system that manages engagement and movement selection in the gearbox.
The resistant carbon structure, closely derived from racing, was 'dressed' by the well-known designer Jason Castriota, who also worked in Pininfarina, and who is particularly cared for the Cx (the Tuatara has achieved the best production drag coefficient of all times for a hypercar, i.e. 0.279) and a correct distribution of the load on the axles, 37% at the front and 63% at the rear.
'' It's been ten years since we have already achieved this record with our first car, the Ultimate Aero - said Jerod Shelby, CEO of SSC - and the Tuatara is really far ahead.
Its performance reflects the dedication and attention with which we have pursued this result. ''
