Car designer Colin Fallows hopes his torpedo-shaped ABB e=motion car will smash the current record, set in 1999 and which stands at 245mph.

Mr Fallows, from Northampton, believes the car will take 1 minute 42 seconds to accelerate from 0mph to 300mph.

ABB said another attempt may be made later on Saturday.

Two previous attempts were abandoned due to winds and electrical problems.

The bright orange, 10m-long (32ft) ABB e=motion car is powered by variable speed drives and two 37kW motors.

With 52 batteries and no mechanical gears, it will be driven by ex-pilot Mark Newby from Oxfordshire, who said his priority was to "get home in one piece".

The official record of 394km/h (245mph) was set by the US White Lightning vehicle in 1999, but e=motion also aims to be the first car of its kind to break the 483km/h (300mph) barrier.

Attempts frustrated

Thursday's first attempt was frustrated because auxiliary batteries for the car's electronic controls lost their full charge.

Strong cross winds which could have knocked the car off course whipped up while the batteries were being recharged, making the team wait a further day.

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The team are prepare for a final attempt at the closed-off highway it is using on Saturday.

A streetcar racing team is due to use the highway on Sunday, and the British team says it may not be able to afford to extend its stay.

The record attempt will be monitored and verified by Fia (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) officials.

Rules state two runs must be made in less than an hour and a minimum speed of 252mph achieved over 0.6 miles.

An Ohio University team has already averaged 314.9mph over two runs, but did not get the record as their Buckeye Bullet had been given a push start and did not meet FIA rules.