Every Major Alton Towers Ride Ranked Worst To Best
3. Rita
Offering one of the most intense experiences any rider will experience, nothing can prepare someone for the feeling of seeing Rita's five red lights tick by and the initial rush that comes when the ride is let loose.
Costing £8 million to build and opening for the 2005 summer season, Rita: Queen of Speed is a drag-race themed experience that lets riders feel the full force of being launched from 0-61mph in just 2.5 seconds. Unlike similar launch rides like Stealth at Thorpe Park, Rita lasts considerably longer and lets riders feel the thrills of hurtling around a couple tight corners in a figure-8 circuit before drawing to a close.
The ride received a face-lift in 2010 following the opening of TH13TEEN, with the old American-style drag race look being subbed out for something more suitable for the new theme of a dark forest. The cockpit was redesigned to appear like it was being consumed by the surrounding woods, the opening voice recording was altered to include the words: 'You must escape!', both of which helped massively in giving Rita a bit more of a theme.