WORDS: ELLIOTT HUGHES | PHOTOS: GRAFTON LSR
The dormant Bloodhound LSR (formerly SSC) Land Speed Record project has been given new life, with the team behind it, Grafton LSR, offering the chance for someone to drive the car and break Andy Green’s 1997 world record of 763.035mph. The original plan was for Green to pilot Bloodhound and eclipse his own record.
For their place in the history books, Green’s replacement is expected to bring substantial funding to allow the team to take Bloodhound LSR back to the Hakskeen Pan in South Africa for an historic attempt at the Land Speed Record. The car last ran in South Africa back in 2019 and reached 628mph.
The Bloodhound project has been under development since 2008 and has been fraught with financial difficulties. This culminated in Yorkshire entrepreneur Ian Warhurst stepping in to rescue the project in 2018, purchasing the car, assets and intellectual property for an undisclosed sum.
It is estimated that the team currently needs to find between £8m and £12m in order to attempt a Land Speed Record. In addition to having enough funds to help plug the financial shortfall, the successful new driver must also have enough experience and skill to pilot the car to over 800mph.
“As we enter a new chapter of the Bloodhound LSR Project, I am excited about the opportunity and challenges that lie ahead, and confident that this will enable us to return to South Africa and set a new record,” asserted Bloodhound CEO Stuart Edmondson.
It has also been announced that a full-scale replica of the Bloodhound LSR will tour the UK between November 8-14, 2023 in order to publicise the search for a new driver. The tour began in the Midlands at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon, before heading south to London, Surrey and Hampshire.
Think you have what it takes? Apply to become Bloodhound LSR’s driver here.
Full Bloodhound roadshow tour timetable:
