You are already the fastest man on terra firma. What was the Thrust  SSC experience like, and how does it feel 17 years later? 

Building and running the world’s first supersonic car, and setting the first (and still the only) supersonic World Land Speed Record, was an amazing experience for all of us. Looking back 17 years later, we are still very proud of the huge achievement that Thrust SSC represents. It’s also a thrill to meet a number of young professional engineers who were inspired to take up engineering because of what we achieved in 1997.

Why do you think the record remained unbroken for so long? 

Thrust SSC’s record is now the longest-standing Land Speed Record ever. That is a direct reflection of just how difficult it is to build a supersonic car.  

When was it decided that you would attempt to break that record? Please share with us the vision behind your passion for this project. 

Project BLOODHOUND was conceived in early 2007 as an ‘Engineering Adventure’ to bring science and technology to life for
the next generation. We quickly identified that 1600kph (1000mph) was at the very limit of modern technology, and would require us to push back the boundaries of physics to get there. That’s just the sort of target that will bring this ‘Engineering Adventure’ to life!

How different is the experience of building the Thrust SSC from the BLOODHOUND SSC?  

Thrust SSC had to develop and then prove a new approach to high-speed aerodynamics, using advanced computer modelling. BLOODHOUND has the advantage of all this experience, plus the huge advances in computer technology since the 1990s. However, BLOODHOUND will be pushing the limits of technology in other ways — 1600kph is faster than any jet fighter has ever been at ground level — so the build needs to be of the very highest quality.

What have the biggest challenges of the BLOODHOUND project been, and how are they being addressed?

The ‘big 5’ challenges for BLOODHOUND are aerodynamics, the wheels, the hybrid rocket, stopping the Car, and the track surface. We’re working with the best in the world to solve these problems. We’ve finalised the aerodynamics with Swansea University’s help, Castle Precision has now delivered the world’s first 1000mph wheels, Nammo in test-firing our hybrid rocket this month, the airbrakes and parachutes are being test-fitted, and after four years of work, the Northern Cape Government in South Africa is finally completing the best Land Speed Record track ever. Now we’ve got 12 months to assemble the Car and start running it — exciting stuff!

How similar is piloting the land speed record car to actually flying fighter planes?

Some of the skills are very similar, and some are very different.  BLOODHOUND SSC is part Formula 1 car, part supersonic jet fighter, and part space rocket, so my experience is a little bit of all of those things, at the fastest speeds ever.