The SSC Ultimate Aero TT is officially the world’s fastest production car – hitting 257mph.

And behind the helm of the SSC Ultimate Aero TT was 71-year-old driver Chuck Bigelow.

Guinness World Records has confirmed that the lightweight hypercar achieved an official record speed of 256.19mph in two passes along Highway 221 in Washington, USA.

The first pass was at an astonishing 257.45mph, with the second hitting 254.92mph.

The SSC beat the 1,001bhp Bugatti Veyron – which Top Gear presenter James May unofficially recorded at 254mph – meaning the £830,000 hypercar is no longer the most potent production car on earth.

.

The bonkers SSC Ultimate Aero uses a 6.2-litre twin-turbocharged V8 to produce a mind-blowing 1,183bhp and 1,094 lb/ft of pulling power.

And SSC believe wind tunnel testing calculates the Ultimate Aero’s top speed to be 273mph.

Engine: 6.3L V8 Twin-Turbo
Drivetrain: RWD
HP: 1183 bhp (Guinness emissions-legal record)
Torque: 1094 lbs-ft (production record)
Weight: 2750 lbs
Drag (cd): 0.357
Fuel Economy: 18 City / 27 Highway / 22.5 average
Octane: 91 pump

Top speed: 256.19 mph (Guinness record)
Capable top speed: 283 mph
0-60: 2.78 seconds (unofficial record)
1/4 mile: 9.90 secs @ 144 mph (unofficial record)
60-0: 103 feet
Skidpad: 1.05g

Weight to Power ratio: 2.33 (production record)
Power to Weight: 0.43 (production record)
Slalom: 73.1 mph (R&T record)