1905 Darracq 200hp
The car was built by Pierre-Alexandre Darracq as a follow-up to his first record breaking car, which had hit 104.52mph in 1904. Having claimed the record Darracq elected not to sit on his laurels, and instead invested in a 200hp V8, making his next creation the most powerful racing car in the world for some time.
The Darracq engine featured a full overhead valve layout on a 90-degree crossflow V8 of 25.4 litres. The 3-bearing crankshaft is splash lubricated.
Described by some as ‘an engine on wheels’ the lightweight Darracq made its attempt on the Land Speed Record on a road in southern France in December 1905 with Victor Hemery at the wheel, clocking a run of 108.59mph. Darracq wasn’t done, he shipped the car across the Atlantic to Florida for the 1906 Daytona-Ormond Speed Trials. There, in the hands of Louis Chevrolet, it eventually hit 122.45mph on the sands. That was the end of Darracq’s time with his amazing machine, as the 200HP was sold to Algernon Lee Guinness where it set the following records in Britain and on the continent before being retired in 1909.
The world standing start kilometer record at 68.61mph.
The European flying kilometer record at 118mph.
The British flying kilometer record at 120.6mph, and unofficially at 122mph.
The world's flying kilometer record at 120.26mph.
The first Brooklands speed certificate in 2 directions at 112.2mph and 115.4mph..
The car was bought by Mark Walker in 2006, restored to running condition, and continues to be driven in historic racing events to this day.
