British stunt driver Paul Swift has added another feather to his cap by setting a new Guinness World Record (GWR) for driving through the tightest gap on two wheels of a pickup truck. The incredible side wheelie stunt through a gap of just 88 cm was performed in a Ford Ranger Raptor pickup. The record attempt was supervised by GWR adjudicator and Editor-in-Chief, Craig Glenday.
The record was set earlier this month during the Guinness World Records Day. It was determined by measuring the width of the gap between the two poles installed on the sides of the tight gap, relative to the height of the truck he drove. Using this parameter, it was ascertained that Swift surpassed the previous record by 0.39 inches or a mere one centimeter. “It feels great to get this record, especially for Guinness World Records Day. To be part of such a special group of people is fantastic,” he said.
Trusting the vehicle
As challenging as it sounds, Swift had to put in a lot of hard work and preparation before the actual record attempt. The most crucial factor is the trust that he put into his vehicle; having tested it in several other stunts, he knew the Raptor was the right choice. Speaking of which, he said, ” I have found it to be sort of indestructible.”
Swift and the supporting team also had to strengthen the ramp that was used to roll the car on two wheels. “We also used a big vehicle, so we had to strengthen the ramp,” he explained. This helped him keep the vehicle stable when it moved through the tight gap on just two wheels.
A proficient stuntman
Performing a stunt on a car is something that comes naturally to Swift, who started attempting such tactics at the age of seven, on his family’s lawnmower. He has many accolades and stunt records under his belt, including one that he broke during the British Motor Show 2023 — the fastest time to complete five car stunts in an impressive 57.21 seconds. He also holds records for the tightest parallel park in an electric car and most doughnuts around a motorcycle performing a wheelie in one minute.