British supercar targets 1,000mph
The Bloodhound SSC could reach speeds of 1,000mph
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Thursday, 23, Oct 2008 11:09
A new British supercar powered by a jet engine and a rocket could reach speeds of 1,000mph.
At the Science Museum today, Lord Drayson, the science minister will announce the plans to build the Bloodhound SSC vehicle, expected to reach the staggering speeds.
In 1997, the Thrust SSC, driven by Andy Green, an RAF pilot, reached speeds of 766mph in the Nevada desert and Lord Drayson admitted to being a big fan of the pilot.
"Andy Green was one of my personal heroes. I wanted to meet him. At the time there was a rumour that Steve Fossett [the late American businessman who recently died in an air crash] was building a car that would do 800mph. They said they could do 1,000mph.
"I thought, wow. What's it like to drive 1,000mph? How cool is that?" the Times newspaper quotes the minister as saying.
Mr Green, 45, is reportedly in line to drive the record-breaking vehicle in around three years time and team leader Richard Noble, who held the land speed record from 1983 to 1997, promised a vehicle that would inspire school children.
"There has never been anything like [the] Bloodhound," he said.
"It is undoubtedly the most stimulating and challenging programme I've ever been involved with."
"The next three years are going to be tough, testing and damned exciting."
Mr Green added: "I’ve met graduate engineers who are adamant that our previous record was what inspired their career choice as youngsters: that sort of thing makes all the effort worthwhile.
"Bloodhound SSC will be so much faster and, we hope, will fire up every school kid about the science and technology. We're going to invite everyone to follow our adventure in this, the most exciting and extreme form of motorsport – the world land speed record. Both as a mathematician, and as a Royal Air Force fighter pilot, I can't think of anything better."
The Bloodhound is expected to cost £10 million.