FIA World Land Speed Records

FIA World Records are the fastest recognised official speeds achieved by any wheeled vehicle on land - excluding motorcycles, for which records are maintained by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). The Record Attempts are standardised over a fixed length course and averaged over two runs in opposite directions.

FIA WORLD RECORD PROCESS

This flowchart lists the various steps in the process of setting a record: from the application for the Record Attempt to its publication.

FIA World Record Process

CATEGORIES

There are many different types of World Records which are divided into four main categories (A, B, C & D) and then several Group & Class sub-divisions within those categories.

Definitions of these Categories, Groups, and Classes can be found in Appendix D through the link below.

REGULATIONS

World Record attempts are governed by regulations as set out in Article 2.7.4 and Appendix D of the FIA’s International Sporting Code. To view these regulations please click on the links here:

LISTS OF RECORDS

Lists of World Records currently recognised by the FIA can be found here:

FORMS FOR RECORD ATTEMPTS

For each Record Attempt forms must be completed prior to and on completion of each attempt. To view the forms please click here:

CALCULATION FORMS

In order to calculate the average speed for a record attempt, the following forms are provided for each major type of record. To view the forms, please click here:

WORLD RECORDS

There are many World Records for different categories but the most famous is the Outright World Land Speed Record - this is the Absolute World Record for the 1 Mile Flying Start. Absolute World Records are for a given distance or elapsed time, independent of Category, Group, or Class.

OUTRIGHT WORLD LAND SPEED RECORD

The current holder of the Outright World Land Speed Record is ThrustSSC, a twin turbofan jet-powered car which achieved 763.035 mph - 1227.985 km/h - over one mile in October 1997. This was the first supersonic record as it broke the sound barrier at Mach 1.016.

Other famous holders of the Outright World Land Speed Record include:

• Thrust II driven by Richard Noble
- achieved a best speed of 633.468mph / 1019.47km/h in 1983

• The Blue Flame driven by Gary Gabelich
- first to exceed 1000 km/h - 630.388 mph / 1014.496 km/h in 1970

• Spirit of America driven by Craig Breedlove
- achieved a best speed of 600.601mph / 966.574km/h in 1965

• Blue Bird driven by Malcolm Campbell
- achieved a best speed of 301.129mph / 484.620km/h in 1935

• Golden Arrow driven by Henry Segrave
- achieved a best speed of 231.36mph / 327.34km/h in 1929

Records up to 1935 were predominately set on beaches before the Bonneville Salt Flats in the USA became the preferred venue for attempts and was home of nearly all Outright World Land Speed Records set between 1935 and 1970. The current Outright World Land Speed Record was set at Black Rock Desert, USA.

FIA World Land Speed Record Archives