Watch: Blind daredevil breaks own record with 200mph drive

Mike Newman during his world speed record run in Yorkshire behind the wheel of a modified Nissan GT-R. PIC: Ross Parry

Father-of-two Mike Newman, 52, who was born blind due to glaucoma, broke the magical barrier by reaching 200.9mph in a modified Nissan GT-R while guided by a navigator over a radio link.

Former bank manager Mr Newman, of Ashton-upon-Mersey, Greater Manchester, set the previous world land speed record for a blind person by driving a Porsche 911 GT2 at 186mph. He is already the first person since his hero Donald Campbell to hold simultaneous land and water speed records.

He said: “The 200mph barrier has been an ambition of mine ever since I broke the first record over a decade ago.

“It has been a long and hard wait and now I am the first blind driver to do this.”

The record took place at Elvington Airfield near York, where he was able to have a straight run to accelerate to the speed he needed.

He now wants to promote Speed of Sight, which builds and runs purpose-built dual controlled track cars, to allow disabled people to drive. Visit www.speedofsight.org.