Porsche helps break European bicycle land speed record

The record attempt took place at Elvington Airfield in Yorkshire. 40 years after Jean-Claude Rude attempted to set a new speed record behind a Porsche 935 Turbo, Neil Campbell used the slipstream of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo to beat his own record of 217km/h, set in June.

Supported by a loyal team of volunteers, to set the record took stamina and immense strength on Campbell's part, as well as two specially selected machines. Campbell's bicycle was created by Cheshire-based Moss Bikes, designed to be incredibly strong and stable at speeds of up to 320km/h. Formed from a mix of carbon fibre and 3D-printed parts, it has interchangeable gears, a wheelbase that's much longer than a conventional bicycle and tyres specially rated for the purpose.

The second machine was a Porsche Cayenne Turbo. The record attempt was made more precarious by the use of a relatively short runway - just 3.2km. This meant Campbell and his team needed a car that was large enough for both the bicycle and its rider to tuck in behind, yet could accelerate very quickly and sustain high speeds. A further demand placed on the car was a rig, acting rather like a parachute, providing an aerodynamic cocoon for the bike and rider.