“The world’s fastest rollercoaster which was opened in a blaze of publicity last week with F1 legend Michael Schumacher in pole position has been forced to close after the braking system exploded on only the third day of operation.

The “ring racer” was hailed as a triumph of German engineering and the world’s fastest rollercoaster when it was unveiled last week at the Nuremberg F1 racing track in Germany. The ride was set to be the new highlight at the fun park adjoining the racing track.

But it is now closed indefinitely. One park visitor said: “There was an enormous bang like a clap of thunder. People were running all over the place but nobody was hurt – although it was frightening.”

Park officials say that there needs to be extensive repairs to the ride’s “pneumatic starting mechanism” before it can be put back on line.

They need a new elastic band, it seems.

They said it was not clear when this would be possible as new safety checks also need to be carried out.

The seven-time F1 champion said the ride which takes place in a red wagon that resembles an F1 car was exciting.”

Well, there is ‘exciting’, there is getting scared half to death and losing your lunch, and there is having bits of fast-moving machinery explode underneath you….or there is sitting around with an ice-cream at a safe distance.

TheEye prefers rum’n’raison ice-cream, as you asked.