Watch the Hennessey Venom GT break 270 mph, setting a new record — of sorts

Hennessey has long claimed its 1,244 hp Venom GT as the rightful king of speed among production cars, despite failing to match the mark set by the Bugatti Veyron. As part of that contention, John Hennessey has said the Venom GT would hit its mark if it only had enough tarmac — which explains why he approached NASA and asked if they could borrow the Kennedy Space Center's landing strip.

After two years of organization and talks, Hennessey finally got on the strip and proved his claims, winding the Venom GT up to 270.49 mph in just 3.22 miles, besting Bugatti by 0.63 mph.

But even that isn't enough.

As the feat wasn't repeated in the opposite direction, the run isn't officially recognized. According to Top Gear, the boffins at NASA wouldn't allow a return run. And even if they did, Guinness now refuses to class the Venom GT as "production;" to qualify a manufacturer must produce at least 30 identical vehicles for public sale, making Hennessey one short with its planned 29 (to date, 11 Venom GTs have been sold). Guinness has previously recognized the $1 million Venom GT as the fastest production vehicle to 300 kph, allegedly offering an exception to its 30-car rule, something it clearly isn't willing to do now.