LEAF races to reverse record

Nissan claims to have set a new world record by taking just one minute and 37 seconds to cover a mile in its LEAF hatchback at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on the weekend -- in reverse.

Billed as a record-breaking way to highlight the high-speed reversing abilities of its all-electric LEAF, the clever publicity stunt saw professional British stunt driver Terry Grant drive backwards for 1.6km in 1:37.02, representing an average speed of 55mph (88.5km/h).

Nissan says that makes the LEAF, which went on sale in Australia last month at a price of $51,500, the fastest car over a measured mile in reverse.

Grant, who set a world record at last year's festival by driving a Nissan Juke up the famous Goodwood hill climb on two wheels, broke his own record five times before shaving a massive 26 seconds off his first time on Friday, and said his only complaint was a sore neck from looking over his shoulder.

"I had a great car at my disposal -- with direct drive from the electric motor to its wheels, the Nissan LEAF can, in theory, go as fast backwards as it can forwards," he said.

"There were times I wasn't sure I was coming or going. However, thanks to the LEAF's low centre of gravity -- the batteries are an integral part of the car's floor -- the car is extremely stable, no matter which direction it's travelling."

This year's annual Festival of Speed and Moving Motor Show attracted a record attendance of more than 185,000 spectators over three days -- up on the previous record set last year of 181,000, with the 2012 selling out earlier than ever before.

Apart from the Nissan LEAF Reverse Record and more than 140 racing drivers, riders and celebrities, Goodwood-goers witnessed a race-prepared LEAF NISMO RC set a hill record for electric vehicles.

Driven (forwards) by current FIA GT1 world champion Michael Krumm, who also drove his 400kW GT-R GT1 racer up the hill, the NISMO-tuned LEAF was joined at Goodwood by the Juke NISMO, which hits European showrooms early next year.

Other 2012 Festival of Speed debuts included the Mazda MX-5 GT concept, a prototype of Jaguar's upcoming F-Type roadster, Bentley's new Continental GT Speed, the new Pagani Zonda R EVO, Mini's Clubvan and the dynamic debut of Infiniti's EMERG-E concept, at the hands of Aussie F1 ace Mark Webber.