A car that runs on the same power used by a toaster has broken the world record for the fastest solar-powered motor.

Guinness Book of Records adjudicators were on hand to witness the £175,000 vehicle race to glory on an Australian navy base airstrip in Nowra, New South Wales.

Sunswift IVy, driven by professional racers Barton Mawer and Craig Davis of electric car firm Tesla,  took the 23-year-old record by 5mph.

The car – built by students at the state university – is about the same size as an average family saloon but is a tenth of the weight  because of its carbon fibre frame.

Four hundred silicon cells power a 55lb battery which is removed when the car is fully charged. It has the potential to hit a top speed of 75mph.

Project manager Daniel Friedman told the Sun: ‘We hope this will spur a lot more interest in solar energy and the debate about renewable energy technology.’

The old record of 49 mph was set in 1988 by General Motors Sunraycer.