A RECORD will be set today when the steepest rollercoaster in the world makes its first official run.

Final tests of the Mumbo Jumbo ride at Flamingo Land, near Malton, North Yorkshire, took place yesterday.

The rollercoaster plunges thrillseekers down an overhang of 112 degrees from a high point of 30 metres. Passengers experience forces in excess of 4Gs – similar to those faced by fighter pilots.

Flamingo Land chief executive Gordon Gibb said: “We are extremely proud of our new ride. It is a world-beater and it definitely puts us in the theme park premier league.

“There is nothing like it anywhere in the UK or Europe.

In fact, you’d have to travel to Indiana Beach in the USA to come anywhere close – and even then our rollercoaster is steeper by one degree.”

Revealing the story behind the name Mumbo Jumbo, Mr Gibb said: “It’s meant to be a tongue-in-cheek description of the way other theme parks boast about their new rides and attractions. We are not talking mumbo jumbo – our new rollercoaster is definitely the real deal.”

Carl Southall, from Guinness World Records, said: “I have been through all the blueprints and surveyors’ reports to verify the angle and once the first successful public run has gone round, then I will verify that as a new world record.”

The ride, which cost £4m, was closed to the public yesterday.

However, more than 20 rollercoaster fanatics who had travelled from Belgium to watch the record-breaking run were allowed on, despite arriving a day too soon.