The Venom F5: Built to Break Records Hennessey may not have the history, technology, or exquisite design compared to other specialized hypercar brands like Bugatti, Pagani, or Rimac. But what they lack in heritage, they make up for by smashing records. Their latest hypercar, the Venom F5 has already made a name for itself as a record breaker. Its 6.6-litre twin-turbo “Fury” V8 produces 1,817 horsepower and 1193 lb-ft of torque. Considering the car weighs less than 1.4 tonnes, that means 1288 horsepower per tonne. It’s no surprise that Hennessey claims the F5 is the fastest car in the world, with a claimed top speed of 311mph. Whilst they’ve yet to achieve that figure, the F5 did recently set a speed record. On the 30th of July 2024, it achieved 219mph over a ½ mile in 14.44 seconds and no car has gone faster since. But clearly, CEO John Hennessey wanted the Venom F5 to be so much more than just a one-trick pony. Hence why there’s an F5 Roadster claiming to be the fastest convertible ever made. And just recently we looked at the F5-M, a hypercar that’s wonderfully old school. And then there’s the track munching, Revolution. The Revolution: Seeking to Smash Lap Records The Revolution utilizes the same 6.6-liter twin-turbo 1817 horsepower V8 as the standard F5 with the same 1193 lb-ft of torque. However, its top speed is limited to just 250mph. Then again its goal is not to smash the 300mph barrier but to demolish the world’s race tracks. This car has a full-width carbon-fiber rear wing generating 635kg of downforce at 249 mph. It also has a larger front splitter and rear diffuser for maximum airflow and a roof-mounted air scoop to improve stability and cooling efficiency. This translates into so much grip that your eyes will fall out of your sockets before this car lets go. In fact on the 25th of March this year, the Revolution smashed the lap record at the Circuit of the Americans in Texas. Setting a time of 2:10.09, it was 0.5 of a second faster than a Czinger 21C and a whole seven seconds quicker than a McLaren P1. It was so fast, that Hennessey claimed it was generating 1.59G’s in the corners. But having smashed that record on its home turf, the Revolution has its targets set quite a bit further afield. John Hennessey has stated, “We’d like to get the Laguna Seca lap record and the VIR record. They’re both on the list and the Nürburgring too. We may try to do some testing in Germany next year.” If so, the Revolution certainly has its work cut out. The obsession with smashing the Nürburgring Lap Record Breaking the Nürburgring lap record is no easy feat. The circuit is named the Green Hell, for a reason. Its nearly 13-mile layout is not just iconic, but dangerous. In particular that 180-degree banked left-hander death trap, the Karusell. However, 11 years ago the Porsche 918 broke the sub-seven minute barrier with a time of 6:57. Since then manufacturers have been obsessed with ensuring their cars set records at the “Green Hell”. Most notably for the last decade, there’s been a three-way spat between Porsche, Lamborghini, and Mercedes. Cars like the Huracan Performante, GT2 RS, Aventador SVJ, GT3 RS, and AMG GT Black Series have all smashed the 918s record. At present Mercedes hold the top spot with the AMG One. Less than two years ago, this F1-derived 1,049 horsepower weapon set an almost unbeatable 6:30.7 lap record at the Green Hell. Yet Hennessey is convinced the Venom F5 Revolution has what it takes to dethrone Mercedes’ fastest car. Their secret weapon is chief engineer, Brian Jones, A veteran of Multimatic, Jones played a crucial role in the development of the AMG One. So he knows all its quirks and weak spots and where the Revolution can exceed it. John Hennessey stated, “Brian's been there…he has shared with me the time he thinks the F5 is capable of, and we'll just suffice it to say it might be a little bit quicker than the One." Will Hennessey triumph over Mercedes? The Nürburgring is a track known for taking no prisoners and achieving perfection requires more than raw horsepower and clever aero. It demands meticulous preparation, perfect conditions, and flawless execution. And most crucially it demands a car to adapt to its varied corners and changing surfaces. So, will the Hennessey Venom F5 Revolution beat the Nürburgring lap record set by the AMG One? Who knows? There’s undoubtedly potential in Brian Jones’ experience and John Hennessey’s unwavering determination. However, the challenges ahead are immense. In terms of sheer grunt, the Revolution trumps the AMG One. But the AMG One was designed from the ground up as a literal racing car. Whilst Hennessey has merely adapted the Venom to be a racing car. Whether it dethrones the AMG One or not, one thing is certain. Hennessey's ambitions to break boundaries both on a straight line and on a circuit is admirable. They forever remind us of the importance of pushing boundaries and why the phrase “enough is enough” should never be used. Source: CarBuzz
