John Cobb 's successful  LSR  runs of 1938-39 the target speed was raised to 600 km/h (373 mph). Powered by a massive 44.5 litre  Daimler-Benz DB 603  inverted  V12  the engine was a derivative of the famous  DB-601  aircraft engine which powered the  Messerschmitt Bf 109  fighter in production at the time. The DB-603