The record-setting run was held on the three kilometre high-speed oval track at the Gerotek test facility near Pretoria with three Chery QQ3 1100cc TXE and two QQ3 800cc TX models.

After 48 hours on the track, the record was set at 7 262km and 6 369km for the Chery QQ3 1100cc and 800cc respectively.

All the participating vehicles covered a total of more than 33,351km - a distance that could take you almost all the way to China and back, and that at top speed!

The vehicles experienced no technical or mechanical problems and they only came into the pit area for scheduled refuelling, driver change, periodical tyre changes and the cleaning of windows.

The five vehicles were driven by 20 professional drivers and journalists who each took turns to take to the track in stints of between two and three hours.

“To our knowledge, it is the first time that a Chinese vehicle manufacturer has managed to set a 48-hour record and it is definitely a first here in South Africa,” said Brett Soso, managing director of Chery SA.

Jolyon Nash, executive director of McCarthy Limited, said the endurance records were a tribute to Chery's durability and reliability and proved the brand's reputation as an affordable and value for money range.

[8 Sep 2008 19:13]

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