Man's need for speed has seen British engineer Richard Jenkins break the land speed record for a wind-powered vehicle.

On the dry plains of Ivanpah Lake in Neveade the Hampshire engineer reached speeds of 126.1mph (202.9km/h) in his Greenbird car, breaking the previous record set back in 1999 by American Bob Schumacher of 116 mph in his Iron Duck vehicle. The Greenbird is made of a carbon fibre composite and it uses only wind for power, no engines, the only metalwork in the car is used for the wing bearings and the wheel unit. Mr Jenkins spent 10 years designing the vehicle and it is his fifth vehicle that he has built to try and break the record.

Greenbird weighs in at a mere 600kg when standing still, but at high speed the effect of the wing design makes it weigh just over a tonne.

Richard Jenkins is now going back to work on his wind powered craft that travels on ice to see what can be achieved there as there is still some debate if its faster travelling on ice than land.
More details on the greenbird Site.