Formula Rossa achieves highest ever rollercoaster launch speed to extend record legacy
Across the globe, there are massive theme parks featuring hundreds of spectacular rollercoasters with loops and twists that will turn you upside down. If you're a thrill seeker, we have just the ride for you! So buckle up, keep all limbs inside the car, and get ready to experience the thrill of speed!
The Ferrari World theme park, located in Abu Dhabi, UAE, opened in 2010 and has over 40 attractions, but most importantly, it is the home of a record-breaking rollercoaster.
The Formula Rossa rollercoaster was opened for its first launch on 4 November 2010 and has been catapulting itself into the record books ever since. And on 28 January, a new Guinness World Records title was broken for highest speed achieved by a rollercoaster launch, as the Formula Rossa reached 0-240km/h (149.12 mph) in just 4.9 seconds. But how fast is that? In comparison, a Formula 1 car often reaches speeds on the main straight racing lines between 220-250 km/h (136.7-155.3 mph), but this rollercoaster can launch itself to that speed in under five seconds, so, blink and you might miss it!
In this video, you can see the signature red rollercoaster making its way around the track with speed and force like no other.
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The rollercoaster was meticulously designed to resemble a Formula 1 car and can accommodate up to 625 riders each hour. While on the Formula Rossa, riders experience a maximum G-force of 4.8, like professional Formula 1 drivers who endure between 4 and 5 G-force during sharp turns.
Its incredibly quick launch consistently succeeds due to a hydraulic launcher that catapults its cars on to a 2.2-km (1.4-mi) track inspired by the Autodromo Nazionale Monza circuit in Italy.
This full-throttle coaster promises speed like no other, but its record-breaking reputation doesn’t end there. Back in 2010, when it opened, the Formula Rossa also broke the Guinness World Records titles for fastest rollercoaster made from steel and overall fastest rollercoaster. Its track measures 2.07 km (1.28 mi) long and has held this record for more than 15 years, so it’ll take something almost as fast as lightning to break these records!
The Formula Rossa isn’t the only amazing ride that launched itself into Guinness World Records history, and the list is only getting bigger. You can read all about more record-breaking rollercoasters here.