The vintage 1936 Type 57SC Atlantic is one of only three ever built and was purchased by the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California.

Although the exact amount of the bid has not been revealed, it is known to have smashed the previous record $12.2 million paid for a Ferrari Testa Rossa last year.

Family of late car collector Dr Peter D Williamson submitted the car to be auctioned but did not expect it to sell for such a high price.

According to Top Gear, the car was first bought by Lord Philippe de Rothschild in 1938 and fitted with a supercharger three year later, giving its 3.3-litre engine 210bhp. When in peak condition, the Atlantic could hit speeds of 123mph.

It is hoped it will be put on display for visitors to see in the near future.

The vintage 1936 Type 57SC Atlantic is one of only three ever built and was purchased by the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California.

Although the exact amount of the bid has not been revealed, it is known to have smashed the previous record $12.2 million paid for a Ferrari Testa Rossa last year.

Family of late car collector Dr Peter D Williamson submitted the car to be auctioned but did not expect it to sell for such a high price.

According to Top Gear, the car was first bought by Lord Philippe de Rothschild in 1938 and fitted with a supercharger three year later, giving its 3.3-litre engine 210bhp. When in peak condition, the Atlantic could hit speeds of 123mph.

It is hoped it will be put on display for visitors to see in the near future.

Vettel, fifth in the championship standings, recorded the fastest lap and was the only driver to go below one minute 20 seconds, while teammate Webber was nearly a full second ahead of third-placed Michael Schumacher.

Home favourite Fernando Alonso came fourth, just a whisker behind Schumacher, while Brit Lewis Hamilton came in sixth, ahead of Nico Rosberg’s Mercedes.

Championship leader Jenson Button was a disappointing ninth on an ultra-dry track which seemed to suit the two Red Bull drivers.

The results of qualifying sessions can often differ wildly from the results of practice sessions, but the other teams will need to seriously consider their strategies if they are to compete with Vettel and Webber’s speed.

Schumacher, who has endured a tough start to the season since his return to the sport, was recently told by racing legend Stirling Moss that he was "past it".

Vettel, fifth in the championship standings, recorded the fastest lap and was the only driver to go below one minute 20 seconds, while teammate Webber was nearly a full second ahead of third-placed Michael Schumacher.

Home favourite Fernando Alonso came fourth, just a whisker behind Schumacher, while Brit Lewis Hamilton came in sixth, ahead of Nico Rosberg’s Mercedes.

Championship leader Jenson Button was a disappointing ninth on an ultra-dry track which seemed to suit the two Red Bull drivers.

The results of qualifying sessions can often differ wildly from the results of practice sessions, but the other teams will need to seriously consider their strategies if they are to compete with Vettel and Webber’s speed.

Schumacher, who has endured a tough start to the season since his return to the sport, was recently told by racing legend Stirling Moss that he was "past it".

After taking top spot in Mexico, Jordan and Turkey, Loeb and Elena now lead the field by 40 points as the WRC heads to the southern hemisphere.

Frenchman Loeb has won the title six years in a row, four of those years driving for Citroen, but he has admitted the weather will make it tough for him and his co-driver to keep up their current winning run.

"It will be a little dry on the first day and maybe we will have rain on the next two days," the 36-year-old told the WRC’s official website.

"That’s no good for me because if you don’t have road cleaning on the second and third days then maybe we have no chance to win."

There will be eight more races in the WRC after this weekend, with the final rally taking place in the UK.

After taking top spot in Mexico, Jordan and Turkey, Loeb and Elena now lead the field by 40 points as the WRC heads to the southern hemisphere.

Frenchman Loeb has won the title six years in a row, four of those years driving for Citroen, but he has admitted the weather will make it tough for him and his co-driver to keep up their current winning run.

"It will be a little dry on the first day and maybe we will have rain on the next two days," the 36-year-old told the WRC’s official website.

"That’s no good for me because if you don’t have road cleaning on the second and third days then maybe we have no chance to win."

There will be eight more races in the WRC after this weekend, with the final rally taking place in the UK.

A year-on-year comparison revealed an overall decrease of 2.1 per cent in traffic levels in the first quarter of 2010, with car traffic down by three per cent.

But motorists frequently using urban ‘A’ roads have not seen any change in the amount of traffic on those roads, while rural ‘A’ roads have seen a two per cent decrease in traffic.

The only reported increase was in light van traffic, which rose by two per cent, but heavy goods vehicle traffic was down by one per cent.

Average journey times per mile in the UK’s ten main urban areas remained at three minutes and 34 seconds, while the average delay for vehicles on inter-urban roads – motorways and ‘A’ roads – fell from three minutes 54 seconds to three minutes 39 seconds.

According to a survey be Exchange and Mart, 62 per cent of motorists think more cash is needed to fix Britain’s roads.

A year-on-year comparison revealed an overall decrease of 2.1 per cent in traffic levels in the first quarter of 2010, with car traffic down by three per cent.

But motorists frequently using urban ‘A’ roads have not seen any change in the amount of traffic on those roads, while rural ‘A’ roads have seen a two per cent decrease in traffic.

The only reported increase was in light van traffic, which rose by two per cent, but heavy goods vehicle traffic was down by one per cent.

Average journey times per mile in the UK’s ten main urban areas remained at three minutes and 34 seconds, while the average delay for vehicles on inter-urban roads – motorways and ‘A’ roads – fell from three minutes 54 seconds to three minutes 39 seconds.

According to a survey be Exchange and Mart, 62 per cent of motorists think more cash is needed to fix Britain’s roads.

Used car specialst HonestJohn.co.uk said although they were supposed to be implemented for safety, they could end up doing more harm than good.

"I am convinced speed humps can present a real threat to road users – as well as local government budgets!" said Honest John.

As speed humps are so widespread, many motorists are driving over them so frequently that they could be damaging the suspension and tyres on their cars, the website added.

But the roads themselves may also be suffering from the installation of the humps, leading to additional costs for councils.

Drivers have previously been warned by Swinton to avoid potholes and reduce their speed to limit the damage to their cars, with the insurance provider reporting a big increase in the number of claims relating to damage incurred from potholes during February and March.

Used car specialst HonestJohn.co.uk said although they were supposed to be implemented for safety, they could end up doing more harm than good.

"I am convinced speed humps can present a real threat to road users – as well as local government budgets!" said Honest John.

As speed humps are so widespread, many motorists are driving over them so frequently that they could be damaging the suspension and tyres on their cars, the website added.

But the roads themselves may also be suffering from the installation of the humps, leading to additional costs for councils.

Drivers have previously been warned by Swinton to avoid potholes and reduce their speed to limit the damage to their cars, with the insurance provider reporting a big increase in the number of claims relating to damage incurred from potholes during February and March.