Finland's four-times world rally champion Juha Kankkunen has driven a Bentley Continental Supersports convertible to a World record 330.695km/h - on ice!
And not just any ice; the record attempt was made on the frozen surface of the Baltic sea, off the coast of Kankkunen's Finnish homeland.
The all-wheel drive, six-litre, 12-cylinder supercar - trumpeted by its maker as the world's fastest ragtop - set the mark running on E85 biofuel, in line with Bentley's CO2 strategy, and its claim that any of its cars can run on petrol, biofuel or any combination of the two.
In the process Kankkunen shattered his own 2007 World ice speed record of 321.6km/h, set in the Continental GT at the same place.
But it wasn't all plain sailing, with temperatures as low as -30 degrees, sudden snow blizzards and potentially dangerous crosswinds on the 16.5km track on a 70cm-thick layer of sea ice.
The record run was done over a one-kilometre measured distance with the speed certified by officials from the Finland Traffic Police, based on the average of two runs in opposite directions, and with measured speeds ratified by a representative of The Guinness Book of Records.
A grinning Kankkunen said afterwards: “Last time I just missed magical 200mph (322km/h) mark in a Continental GT, so when I heard about the Supersports - with more than 450kW under the bonnet, a quickshift transmission and all-wheel drive - I was determined to go record breaking again with the Bentley Boys.
“320km/h came up after 5km on sheet ice - then it was just a question of getting everything right in the timing zone and hoping the snow kept away. The conditions were dangerous but the car responds so well to the slightest input that it gives you the confidence to push even harder.”
Kankkunen's car had only minimal modifications for the record attempt - a fully-welded, heavy-duty roll-cage, Pirelli SottoZero II 275/40R20 winter tyres, front and rear spoilers for optimum high-speed stability on the treacherous surface and a braking parachute on the rear bumper to provide reassurance in case of an emergency.
Bentley chairman Wolfgang Dürheimer - who was there - said: “Juha's skill and courage in extreme conditions truly make him one of the modern-day Bentley Boys. We'll be celebrating this achievement with a very special 'extreme' Bentley, which will be the most powerful car yet with the famed Winged B emblem.”
A limited edition of 100 examples of this most extreme Bentley will be made and the car will make its global debut at the Geneva auto show on 1 March.