Watch world's longest car jump record attempt

French rally driver and professional skier Guerlain Chicherit's attempt to beat Tanner Foust's Guinness World Record for the longest car jump ended badly on Tuesday, March 18. Chicherit was attempting to jump a specially prepared Mini Countryman 360 feet from ramp to ramp before a crowd of onlookers at Tignes ski resort in France, in an bid to beat Foust's 322 foot car jump record which has stood since 2011.

It appeared that Chicherit was off to a good start with plenty of momentum, even though the surface may have been a bit uneven for an ideal departure ramp. But the Mini nosedived severely during the latter half of the jump distance, and smashed into the landing ramp with its front fascia, somersaulting down the ramp before coming to a halt on its side.

Amazingly, Chicherit was able to walk away from the wrecked car on his own, though he suffered a few minor injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment and tests. Chicherit was tweeting to his fans hours after the crash, while still under observation at the hospital.

The Mini's severe nosedive was surprising for reasons other than weight distribution -- practice jumps at 1/2 the distance should have uncovered this tendency in the car before Chicherit attempted the entire 360 foot distance. By comparison, Foust's successful 332 jump three years prior saw the Team Hot Wheels vehicle touch down with its rear wheels first, keeping its nose up throughout the entire jump, which also featured a slightly shallower arc.

Chicherit previously performed a backflip in a Mini, in a perfectly executed stunt that saw the Countryman rotate in midair around the mass of its engine.

By Jay Ramey