BLOODHOUND SCRAPPED – WITH ONLY 35 MILES ON THE CLOCK

THE Bristol-based project to develop the Bloodhound supersonic car – which aimed to hit speeds of 1,000mph – has been scrapped.

Bloodhound Programme, the firm behind the initiative to break the land speed world record, went into administration in October.

Yesterday, administrators at FRP Advisory announced that efforts to secure an investor had failed, leaving Bloodhound on the scrapheap with only 35 miles on the clock after 21 test runs at Newquay Airport last year.

Andrew Sheridan, joint adminis- trator and partner at the firm, said: “Since the company entered into administration we have worked tirelessly with the directors to identify a suitable individual or organisation who could take the project forward.

“Despite overwhelming public support, and engagement with a wide range of potential and credible investors, it has not been possible to secure a purchaser for the business and assets. We will now work with key stakeholders to return the thirdparty equipment and then sell the remaining assets of the company to maximise the return for creditors.”

Project Bloodhound was founded in 2007, with plans to race the car at a specially-built track in the deserts of South Africa.

The team was seeking £25 million in investment to provide guaranteed funding and see the project to completion.

Over 11 years, Bloodhound operated on a partnership and sponsorship model with support from companies including Rolls-Royce and Rolex.

The Ministry of Defence lent prototype jet engines for the car, while Northern Cape Provincial Government in South Africa supported the creation of the track.

Members of the public also donated to support the car’s development and a global education programme, which reached more than two million children.

Last year, Bloodhound reached speeds of 200mph in tests at Newquay Airport in Cornwall. At 1,000mph, the supersonic car would have covered a mile in 3.6 seconds.

The world land speed record of 763mph is held by Thrust SSC, led by Bloodhound’s project director Richard Noble and driver Andy Green.

Carl Court/Getty Images The Bloodhound supersonic car on its test run at Newquay Airport last year

Ten-year journey, clockwise from left: project director Richard Noble at the launch in 2008, UWE Bristol students working with driver Andy Green on a cockpit mock-up in 2009, the chassis taking shape, Salisbury’s Sam James with his winning design for Andy Green’s helmet in 2015