As an ardent race car lover myself, I believe determining a race car’s quality and value entails considering many factors from horsepower to pedigree. Each feature makes these cars undeniably desirable, but no one feature is as compelling as speed. I’ve seen and experienced how high speeds have thrilled and enthralled drivers, fans, and manufacturers alike; the fastest race car is, after all, a coveted title. As I watch each passing year, race cars become lighter, sleeker, and faster, and this year is no different. Here are some of the fastest race cars in the world today. 

Koenigsegg Agera RS

Designed specifically for racing and manufactured on an extremely limited scale, the Koenigsegg Agera RS is lightweight, nimble, and, of course, fast. The Swedish car manufacturer made only 25 between 2011 and 2018, customizing each vehicle for its owner. In 2017, the Agera RS claimed the title of fastest production car in the world. It takes just 3 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph and has a top speed of around 285 mph.

SSC Tuatara

With an aero-optimized body and an incredible amount of power diverted to its rear wheels, the SSC Tuatara is SSC’s latest creation following years of silence from the specialty vehicle manufacturer. Initially, SSC claimed that the vehicle would reach a top speed of 265 mph. However, at this year’s Concours d’Elegance, they revised this claim to say that the Tuatara would exceed a top speed of 300 mph. While this is certainly impressive, the Tuatara is not the first race car alleged to surpass such a high speed; that honor goes to the Hennessey.

Hennessey Venom F5

With an impressive 1600 horsepower powered by a 7.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8, the Hennessey Venom F5 is the latest competitor in the speed war from Hennessey Performance Engineering. The Hennessey Venom F5 is purportedly able to accelerate to a speed of 249 mph and then stop in under 30 seconds. While no one has yet legitimized these claims, the Hennessey also has an alleged top speed of 301 mph.  

Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+

In 2019, Bugatti surpassed its competitors with the Chiron Super Sport 300+. With Le Mans winner and Bugatti test car driver Andy Wallace behind the wheel, the Chiron reached a documented speed of over 304 mph on the track. Bugatti intends to produce only 30 of these vehicles. While Bugatti has routinely demonstrated its ability to produce fast cars, greater speed may not be their driving force much longer. Instead, they plan to turn instead to other features such as styling, handling, comfort, and beauty—even though I can’t imagine a more beautiful car than the Chiron.