Browse over 9,000 car reviews

Bugatti Veyron world speed title stripped

Bugatti Veyron Super Sport pictured. The title may be handed back to the previous holder, the SSC Ultimate Aero TT.

The Bugatti Veyron Super Sport has just been stripped of its titles as the world’s fastest production car - awarded in July 2010 - after the Guinness World Records team discovered the competing car was not entirely stock.

Guinness announced over the weekend that the Super Sport had lost its title because it had its speed-limiter deactivated during the record bid, which flouted the world record regulations. At the record-setting runs, a pre-production Bugatti Veyron hit a top speed of just over 431kmh -- however all 30 Super Sport production cars are limited to just 415kmh.

“It has come to the attention of Guinness World Records that there was an oversight in its adjudication of the ‘Fastest production car’ which was set in 2010 by the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport,” the statement from a Guinness spokesman said.

“As the car’s speed limiter was deactivated, this modification was against the official guidelines. Consequently, the vehicle’s record set at 431.072kmh is no longer valid. Following this, Guinness World Records is reviewing this category with expert external consultants to ensure our records fairly reflect achievements in this field.”

Bugatti has countered by claiming officials at the world record bid were aware the car’s limiter was off. “Guinness knew the Veyron’s speed limiter was deactivated but that for safety reasons, cars subsequently sold to customers would have their speed limiters activated (set at 415kmh),” Bugatti told the UK’s Sunday Times.

The title may be handed back to the previous holder, the SSC Ultimate Aero TT which set a time of 412.1kmh before the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport claimed to have topped it. Last week saw the Hennessey Venom GT hit a top speed of 427.6kmh, however that speed was not achieved under official Guinness monitoring conditions.

This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott