So called actor achieves record speed in a stunning Bentley on the Pendine Sands.

• Bentley helps Elba follow in famous footsteps of Sir Malcolm Campbell
• Continental GT Speed and Hollywood star break 88-year-old record
• Award-winning actor achieves 180.361 mph on Pendine Sands, Wales

Idris Elba, star of Luther and The Wire, piloted a Bentley to break the historic ‘Flying Mile’ UK land speed record set by Sir Malcolm Campbell in 1927. The award-winning actor hit a top speed of 180.361 mph at the wheel of a new Continental GT Speed on Pendine Sands, Wales. 

This broke the existing record of 174.8 mph set by Sir Malcolm nearly 90 years ago in his legendary Napier-Campbell Blue Bird. The record was independently verified by the UK Timing Association.

Elba, who famously played Nelson Mandela in the multi-award winning Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, said: “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.”

Despite some challenging tidal conditions on the beach in south Wales, the record was broken in the Crewe-built Continental during filming for an upcoming four-part Discovery Channel series, Idris Elba: No Limits, which will air in July.

Bentley Continental GT Speed

Powered by Bentley’s iconic 6-litre twin-turbo W12 engine, the GT Speed develops 635 PS and 820 Nm for instantly accessible high performance. Coupled with a new ZF eight-speed close-ratio automatic transmission and state-of-the-art engine management software, the GT Speed despatches the zero-to-sixty sprint in 4.0 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.2s), on its way to a top speed of 331 km/h (206 mph).

In the Bentley Speed tradition, outstanding performance is matched by an enhanced chassis with up-rated springs, anti-roll bars and bushes, a lowered ride height (by 10mm front and rear) together with re-tuning of the electronically controlled damping and steering systems.

The worlds most famous race track, The Nuerburgring has been sold.

The Nuerburgring, the German race track known as Green Hell for its challenging Formula One course, was sold to Dusseldorf-based partsmaker Capricorn Group.

The transaction values the 379-hectare (937-acre) property at more than 100 million euros ($139 million), including 25 million euros to be spent further developing the site, lawyers managing the insolvency of owner Nuerburgring GmbH said.

The site was put up for sale last year after its owners failed to pay loans taken out to build hotels and a rollercoaster.

"The creditor committee had two very good offers and in the end decided on the offer with the highest price and good prospects for the region," insolvency lawyer Jens Lieser said in the statement.

The Nuerburgring, Germany's most famous race circuit, was built in 1927 and has hosted at least 30 Formula One races, including a 1976 event where Austrian driver Niki Lauda's car burned while he was trapped inside.

The track's owner and operator filed for insolvency protection in 2012.

Capricorn's acquisition includes the 21km (13-mile) North Loop and newer 5km Grand Prix circuit.

Last year, Hyundai Motor Co. built a 4.4 million-euro research center at the Nuerburgring with direct access to the tree-lined track, which was dubbed Green Hell by driver Jackie Stewart.

German auto club ADAC bid about 100 million euros for the property, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported in November.

Formula One Management CEO Bernie Ecclestone also submitted a bid, WirtschaftsWoche reported in January.

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