Sniffing speed: Bloodhound project resurrected

The Bloodhound Programme announced recently that it would have to abandon its land speed record attempt due to a lack funds but now a new backer has stepped in.

The man with the deep pockets is Ian Warhurst, who paid ‘an unknown sum’ for the project. Previously the British outfit said it needed at least $US33 million to attempt the record.

Warhurst comes from a mechanical engineering background and has successfully managed automotive engineering businesses like Melett, a turbocharger specialist.

Bloodhound’s SSC (Super Sonic Car) is essentially a jet engine/rocket hybrid on wheels, combining a Rolls-Royce EJ200 turbine found in the Eurofighter Typhoon with a cluster of bespoke hybrid rockets developed by defense firm Nammo. All in, there is over 100,000kW of power available.

The SSC was scheduled to attempt the land speed record in the fourth quarter of 2019 prior to the financial difficulties. Now details of the company’s plans are to be announced in the New Year.

It’s likely the attempt will still take place on a dry lake bed in South Africa’s Kalahari Desert, known as the Hakseen Pan.

What sort of speed is the Bloodhound expected to reach? The current world land speed record is 1228km/h (763mph) set by fighter pilot Andy Green in 1997 behind the wheel of the Thrust SSC. Green will also pilot the Bloodhound SSC, which could break the 1000mph (1609km/h) barrier.