Bloodhound jet-car seeks driver and $21m to break 1,287 km/h record

The team behind the iconic vehicle, aiming to shatter the world land speed record beyond 1,287km/h, is on the lookout for a new driver to join its adrenaline-fuelled journey.

Wing Commander Andy Green, the sole pilot and existing record holder, is stepping aside and redirecting his focus towards fundraising for the project’s next phase.

Mr Green, a former fast jet pilot, envisions the ideal successor as someone with pilot-level skills or a top-tier racing driver. He remains an integral part of the team, ready to mentor the new recruit and, if needed, take the wheel for the record-breaking run.

The quest for a new driver unfolds against the backdrop of Bloodhound’s transformation into a zero-emissions powerhouse.

Embracing a new eco-friendly guise, the car aims to be a trailblazer in the development of synthetic fuels that are poised to drive the evolution of low-emission intercontinental aircraft.

Ian Warhurst, Bloodhound’s owner, estimates that around £12 million (AU$21.6 million) is needed to propel the car beyond 1,287km/h.

From its humble beginnings with a £600,000 (AU$1,083,600) government grant 15 years ago, the project has faced financial challenges but continues to capture the imagination of speed enthusiasts.

A full-size replica of the car is currently touring in England as the team hunt for a driver, who will take the wheel at a specially prepared track in South Africa.

Despite financial setbacks and the impact of the Covid pandemic, Bloodhound CEO Stuart Edmondson said the record can be broken.

The project’s Rolls-Royce EJ200 engine is used to power thousands of jet fighters around the world and is coupled with a Norwegian-made Nammo rocket motor.

The team is prepared, the track is ready, and with adequate funding, Bloodhound could hit the runway again by 2025, promising an exhilarating chapter in the pursuit of speed.

“With a new driver, along with my aim of not using fossil fuels to set a new FIA Outright World Land Speed Record, the project promises to be exciting, engaging and relevant at so many levels,” said Mr Edmondson.