Molopo Lodge is proud to host the team of the Bloodhound LSR Project
The Bloodhound LSR Project
From March 2019, the Bloodhound LSR project has a new headquarters – the UK Land Speed Record Centre – in Berkeley, Gloucestershire, and a new parent company, Grafton LSR Limited. The Bloodhound team is now preparing the car to go to South Africa; initially for high-speed tests and then to set a new world land speed record.
Why break the record?
The project is helping to push boundaries and demonstrate pioneering new technologies. Many of the aspects of our land speed record car have required engineers to think in new ways and manufacturers to develop novel production and testing methods. The current world land speed record of 763.035 mph (1,227.985 km/h) was set over 20 years ago by a British team including Bloodhound LSR driver Andy Green.
Setting a new record
High-speed testing will take place at Hakskeen Pan in October 2019. We then plan to return to South Africa in autumn 2020 to break the world land speed record. After setting the new world land speed record, the team will make a range of assessments before deciding whether to pursue the 1,000mph (1,609km/h) speed that the car has ultimately been designed for.
Ian Warhurst, CEO, Grafton LSR Limited
This project has inspired so many people over the last 10 years, including both students and the wider engineering community. Engineers like solving problems and theorising about what happens when you pass the limits of known understanding. We look forward to continuing this inspiration into the future.”
History of the Bloodhound LSR Project
Where it all Began
The Bloodhound Project started in 2008 with the formation of Bloodhound SSC Programme Ltd by former world land speed record holder Richard Noble, who had set a new record of 633mph (1,019km/h) in 1983. That record was surpassed in 1997 by a team led by Noble, with Thrust SSC driven by Andy Green which reached 763mph (1,227km/h). For Noble and Green, that wasn’t enough – they knew they could go faster…
Car development
The 10-year development phase of Bloodhound SSC included engineering highlights such as the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to develop the optimum shape for the car and the development of the multi-engined powertrain comprising the EJ200 jet engine and the rocket.
New Owner - Ian Warhurst
On 17 December 2018, Yorkshire engineer and businessman, Ian Warhurst, purchased the Bloodhound business and assets. Ian and his family had been long-term supporters of the project, and his children had been inspired by seeing Bloodhound at an event