bloodhound SSC races the only supersonic car to travel faster than the speed of sound

the bloodhound SSC, a team of some of the world’s most revered engineering talent, has been working hard to create a vehicle that will reach a new world land speed record of 1,000mph at cornwall airport newquay, england on october 28th. thrust SSC, the team’s previous 1997 record-holding supersonic car set in the nevada desert, coincidentally celebrates its 20th anniversary on race day.

all image © stefan marjoram / bloodhound SCC

bloodhound SSC is approximately 13.4 m long and weighs 7.5 tonnes. the design is a mix of car and aircraft technology, with the front section being a carbon fibre monocoque (like a racing car) and the back portion being a metallic framework and panels (like an aircraft). the two front wheels sit within the body and two rear wheels are mounted externally within wheel fairings. the car will be powered by both a jet engine and a rocket, which together will produce more than 135,000 horsepower: that’s more than six times the power of all the Formula 1 cars on a starting grid put together.

when finished, it will comprise over 3,500 parts (and 22,500 rivets), of which many have been designed and manufactured uniquely for this car

the vehicle is, without doubt, the most complicated car ever built. when finished, it will comprise over 3,500 parts (and 22,500 rivets), of which many have been designed and manufactured uniquely for this car. it will be powered by three engines: the eurojet EJ200 jet engine and the nammo rocket/rocket cluster will provide the thrust, while the third – a jaguar supercharged V8 engine – will act as an auxiliary power unit to drive the rocket oxidiser pump.

anatomy of the car
video by bloodhound SSC – 1,000 mph car

the design is a mix of car and aircraft technology, with the front section being a carbon fibre monocoque and the back portion being a metallic framework and panels