World's fastest blind driver..
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-09-10 11:22

A South African became the world's fastest blind driver Thursday after driving across a remote airstrip at 269 kph (167 mph).

Blind driver Hein Wagner prepares to break the World Blind Land Speed record on an airstrip near the small northwest province town of Mafikeng, September 8,2005. Wagner clocked a new record of 269 kilometres per hour (kph) eclipsing the previous record of 233 kph. The drive, on an airstrip near South Africa's border with Botswana, was aimed at increasing public awareness of problems facing blind people and raising money for a national charity for the blind. [Reuters]

Blind since birth, 33-year-old Hein Wagner of Cape Town had a sighted navigator for his record attempt. After crossing the airfield, he told reporters he wanted to do it again but was considering piloting an aircraft for his next record attempt.

"I'm very happy," said Wagner, whose drive in a borrowed Maserati V8 GranSport was monitored by motoring organization Motorsport SA and filmed for the Guinness Book of World Records.

The drive, on an airstrip near South Africa's border with Botswana, was aimed at increasing public awareness of problems facing blind people and raising money for a national charity for the blind.

The previous record, set by a blind British bank manager, was 233 kph (145 mph).

"I drove it with no insurance. No one wanted to give any to us," Wagner told national news agency SAPA.

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