Even with the Arctic chill, Bentley must have been feeling the warm glow of setting a new world record for ice driving only a few days ago. However, that glow will have dropped quicker than the thermometer's mercury as Finnish tyre company Nokian has announced it has already trumped Bentley's 330.69km/h record with a faster run of 3321.61km/h.
Not only did Nokian achieve a higher top speed on the frozen 14-kilometre ice track, test driver Janne Laitinen did it at the wheel of an otherwise standard Audi RS6 saloon with only the top speed limiter removed.
Using studded winter tyres, Laitinen broke the record on the Gulf of Bothnia in Oulo, Finland. The record has been confirmed by the Guinness World Records organisation at 331.610km/h. To achieve the record, Laitinen had to complete two runs, one in either direction on the track from a standing start, and both runs must be made within one hour.
Nokian's Matti Morri said: "Testing at high speeds in demanding conditions forms an important part of winter tyre development. Testing our boundaries can teach us new things."