Dig deep Internet, because the Bloodhound land-speed record project (Bloodhound SSC) is up for sale. Again.
Fancy buying a jet car and chipping in around £8 million to help it hit 800mph? That’s what it’ll cost you to get the Bloodhound SSC to bonkers speed after Covid-19 delays have seen funding dry up and so the project is being sold. But don’t think you’d be getting a duffer because the Bloodhound SSC has already proven itself during early testing, smashing its 500mph target in 2019 (peaking at 628mph or 1011km/h).
The next stage would see the car cop its Nammo monopropellant rocket to help it hurtle towards 800mph or 1287km/h. The team behind the project has already built a 12-mile long track on a dry lake bed at Hakskeen Pan, Northern Cape, South Africa.
This is the second time the Bloodhound project has been put up for sale. The first time was back in 2018 when the current owner Ian Warhurst bought the project and then provided the funding ensuring the team deployed to South Africa in 2019 to complete the high speed test programme.
“It has been a privilege to lead this team of world-class engineers over the past two years. I was spellbound – along with a huge audience around the world – as we tested the car up to 600+ mph in South Africa,” Warhust said.
“When I committed to take the car high speed testing in 2019, I allocated enough funding to achieve this goal on the basis that alternative funding would then allow us to continue the record attempts. Along with many other things, the global pandemic wrecked this opportunity in 2020 which has left the project unfunded and delayed by a further 12 months. At this stage, in absence of further, immediate, funding, the only options remaining are to close down the programme or put the project up for sale to allow me to pass on the baton and allow the team to continue the project. This gives someone with the right passion and available funding to effectively swoop in at the last minute and take the prize.
I will, of course, be cheering from the side-lines when Bloodhound smashes through 800 mph.”
Bloodhound driver Andy Green said: “In my opinion, the Bloodhound team has built the best Land Speed Record Car ever. It made our 628mph test run look easy! We’re now raring to get to 800 mph+, to showcase this technical marvel and to invite a global audience to join in an incredibly exciting adventure. After the horrible 2020 pandemic year we have all just experienced, the world needs a good news story, and Bloodhound is ready to deliver it”.
While you’re here subscribe to the MotoFomo Newsletter
Sign Up for the latest news, reviews, advice, buying guides and more delivered to your inbox every week