Porsche v Beetle in one-mile race

A Porsche 911 Turbo and an ageing Volkswagen Beetle went head-to-head in a race over one mile (1.6km), although there was a surprising twist.

The battle was part of a Top Gear episode, with the sports car driven by presenter Richard Hammond along a desert track. 

But, to make the contest fairer, the Beetle was given a helping hand from gravity. It was hoisted a mile above the finish line by a helicopter before being dropped to find out which vehicle could cover the distance the fastest.

Hammond predicts a close race before getting behind the wheel of the Porsche and gets the car to about 150mph (241kph) as the Beetle tumbles through the sky at a rapid rate.

To discover which vehicle was first to the chequered flag in 2011, watch the video below.

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