A former world record holder is taking on Richard Branson after the business man beat her record and crammed 25 women into a mini.

Now Dani Maynard from Jevington near Eastbourne is vowing to get 27 women into the classic car and reclaim the record on the finish line of the London to Brighton mini rally this Sunday.

Her original record of 23, set in November 2012, was beaten by Virgin tycoon Branson in a Virgin Mobile store in South Africa in October last year when 25 women squeezed into the car.

The team Dani and the Divas is made up of her friends as well as competitive swimmers and cheer- leaders.

The 40-year-old swimming teacher said she is not going to “sit back and lick my wounds” but instead reclaim her record.

She said: “Branson has got enough records and we cannot let him have this one as well, we are going to take it back and keep it local.

“We will get 27 girls in the Italian Job style classic mini this weekend – we have already done
it in training so we should be able to get the record back.

“Guinness World Records have very kindly agreed to send an adjudicator along free of charge.”

The team Dani and the Divas also represented Great Britain at International Guinness World Records Day when they broke their previous record of 27 and managed to get 28 girls into the new-style mini cooper in November 2012, making them double record holders. S

ince she broke the records Ms Maynard has become a minor celebrity and has appeared on tel- evision shows, including

This Morning and Saturday night quiz show I Love My Country. The world record breaking attempt will be on Sunday at 3.20pm at Madeira Drive at the finish line of the 29th The London to Brighton Mini Run (L2B).

L2B is an annual parade rally from London to Brighton, which at the end becomes a car show featuring hundreds of classic and new minis stretching from the Marina to Palace Pier.