Camille Jenatzy breaks 80 km/h in La Jamais Contente (1899)

Belgian driver Camille Jenatzy set a land speed record of 80.35 km/h on 27 January 1899 at Achères, France. This achievement surpassed Gaston de Chasseloup-Laubat's previous mark of 66.65 km/h, establishing a new benchmark in the early history of electric vehicle racing.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. The event occurred during a series of record-setting duels between Belgian driver Camille Jenatzy and French aristocrat Gaston de Chasseloup-Laubat. These competitions took place at Achères, Yvelines, near Paris. De Chasseloup-Laubat had set the first recognised automobile land speed record there on 18 December 1898, driving a Jeantaud electric car, and improved it to 66.65 km/h on 17 January 1899.

Record Break. On 27 January 1899, Jenatzy achieved a speed of 80.35 km/h (49.93 mph). This performance exceeded the previous record of 66.65 km/h set by de Chasseloup-Laubat on 17 January. The record was established at Achères, marking a significant milestone in land speed racing history.

Participants. Camille Jenatzy was a Belgian race car driver known for breaking land speed records. Gaston de Chasseloup-Laubat was a French aristocrat and race car driver who held the initial record. Both competed fiercely in publicity stunts to determine the fastest vehicles.

People involved

Sources

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