McLaren Formula E driver Jake Hughes has set a new indoor land speed record at 135.9 mph. The run was performed earlier this week at a warehouse in London, where it was certified by Guinness World Records.
The record was set by a modified version of the current Gen 3 Formula E car, one that the series is calling Gen Beta. The modified car featured softer tires, speed-focused 3D printed aerodynamic elements, and, most crucially, an activated front motor. That part, which is in the current cars but currently used only for additional brake harvesting, makes the car all-wheel drive and bumps output from 470 hp to 536 hp. As series CEO Jeff Dodds told Road & Track last month, unlocking the potential of the current Formula E car with showcases like these will be a goal for the series going forward.
Uniquely, the indoor section used for the test run is actually part of the circuit that will be used for this weekend's races. The series will race on an indoor-outdoor track in London this weekend, one that includes the .176-mile indoor straight that was used for the top-speed runs performed by both Dennis and fellow driver Lucas di Grassi earlier this week.
The last indoor land speed record, set by Porsche with a Taycan Turbo S in 2021, came in at 102.6 mph. The Gen Beta car has beaten that record by 33 mph, a full 46 mph ahead of the 87-mph uncertified mark set by a Ford Fiesta rallycross car on Top Gear USA back in 2013.
