You may know of British actor Idris Elba from his many high-profile roles in film and television; he played Charles Minor in The Office (US), Janek in Prometheus, Russell “Stringer” Bell in The Wire, and the list goes on and on.
Now, get ready to know the award-winning actor from the record books; Idris Elba has just broken a “flying mile” land speed record in a Bentley Continental GT, across the Pendine Sands in Wales. The previous flying mile record set there had stood since 1927, achieved by none other than Sir Malcolm Campbell.
The flying mile is a variety of mile racing where the driver is given some distance to build speed to the start line – typically around 300 feet – and then accelerates throughout the course of a mile. The resulting average speed from that entire distance is the driver’s result.
Nearly 90 years ago, Sir Malcolm Capbell set a UK flying mile land speed record of 174.8 mph, at Pendine Sands. The car used was the legendary Napier-Campbell Blue Bird. Idris Elba broke that record handily, managing an average speed of 180.361 mph in a Bentley Continental GT – a record which has been independently verified by the UK Timing Association.
The actor said in a statement from Bentley Motors: “I’m absolutely elated to have broken the ‘Flying Mile’ at Pendine Sands. It’s an honour to have taken on the challenge, and to successfully follow in the footsteps of the illustrious Sir Malcolm Campbell.”
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