World’s Fastest Land Rover Defender Uses Michelin Tyres

A Michelin Diamaris-shod diesel-powered Defender 90 has just won the World’s Fastest Land Rover Defender shootout. The event, which took place at Bruntingthorpe proving ground in Leicestershire on Tuesday 29 September, attracted 27 entries from tuners and private individuals who brought along their Defenders to see which would be fastest over a number of tests. These included straight-line acceleration and timed sprints around short circuits.

Commenting on the performance, the car’s owner Charlie Fawcett said: “We are obviously very pleased to have won this event as we were up against some much more powerful opposition, including supercharged V8-powered vehicles. In the end though, the (285/50 R18) Michelin tyres really made a difference as we were able use every one of our 239bhp to easily win both of the timed circuit sprints, and the overall title. At times we had so much grip that the car was cornering on two wheels and our driver said it reminded him of his Clio race car in the way it turned into corners.”