Name of the Project
Project Bloodhound supersonic car (SSC) project.

Location
UK and South Africa's Northern Cape province.

Client
Bloodhound Programme.

Project Description
The project involves the construction of, possibly, the world’s fastest car.

The SSC is an amalgamation of car and aircraft technology, with the front half being a carbon-fibre monocoque, similar to that of a racing car, and the back half being a metallic frame, with panels like those of an aircraft. It is expected to reach a speed of more than 1 600 km/h.

The Bloodhound will have a slender, 14-m-long body, with two front wheels mounted within the body and two rear wheels mounted externally within the wheel fairings.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Value
R515-million.

Duration
The Bloodhound team announced in May this year that it expected to race in South Africa next year, slowly ramping up to tackle the 1 600 km/hr record in October or November 2019.

Latest Developments
Bloodhound Programme, the UK company behind Project Bloodhound has run into serious financial trouble.

The company has entered into administration, with the appointment of Andrew Sheridan and Geoff Rowley, partners at specialist business advisory firm FRP Advisory LLP, as joint administrators.
 
Project Bloodhound was founded in 2007 and aims to reach speeds of 1 600 km/h at a specially built, 18-km-long, 1 500-m-wide race track at Hakskeen Pan, in South Africa’s Northern Cape province.
 
In addition to seeking to break the land-speed world record, the project is the focal point for a science, engineering and maths education campaign.
 
To date the project has operated on a partnership and sponsorship model, with support from a variety of partners, including Rolls-Royce and Rolex, the UK Ministry of Defence and the Northern Cape provincial government, with the latter supporting the creation of the track.

Individual donations from the public have also supported the development of the car and the global education programme.
 
The project has resulted in a viable racing car having been built, which has been tested to 321 km/h.

The team is now seeking around £25-million in funding to complete the project.

Sheridan explains that entering into administration will provide some breathing space to identify an investor who will bring the guaranteed funding, impetus and expertise required to drive the project forward.

“This is an opportunity for the right investor to leave a lasting legacy. We are . . . in discussion with a number of potential investors and would encourage any other interested party to contact us without delay,” Sheridan explains.

Chapman has noted that as the Bloodhound project moves out of the research and development phase and into the operational phase of the project it needs a different approach to funding.

“With the right support, we have no doubt that the project will achieve its aims and could be racing for the record in as little as ten months.”

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Castrol (lubricants, brake and hydraulic fluids), Poynting (antennas).

On Budget and on Time?
The land-speed record attempt has been postponed to 2018. Initially planned for 2015, the UK-driven record attempt has faced a number of deferments, owing largely to budgetary constraints.

Contact Details for Project Information
Mettle PR, on behalf of Bloodhound, Jules Tipler, tel +44 7811 166 796 or email jules.tipler@mettlepr.com.