Nissan Leaf sets reverse record at Goodwood [videos]

At the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Nissan Leaf electric car set the record for the fastest car to travel in reverse.

At the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Nissan Leaf electric car set the record for the fastest car to travel in reverse. Terry Grant, a professional stunt driver, performed the bizarre task of steering the Leaf backwards along the Goodwood hillclimb course. He drove the Leaf at 55 mph (88.5 km/h) on average. Terry set the Festival record Friday, opening day, and then went on to beat it on Saturday and Sunday. He shaved 26 seconds from Friday’s time.

Terry, who drove a Nissan Juke up a hill on two wheels last year at the festival, set a world record. He said, “I had an amazing car at my disposal. With direct drive from the electric engine to its wheels, the Nissan LEAF could theoretically go as fast forwards as it can backwards. It was difficult to know where I was going and when I was going. The LEAF’s low center gravity means that the battery floor is an integral part of the car. This makes the car extremely stable no matter where it is going. “My only complaint is a slight neckache due to constantly looking over my shoulder!”