The global launch of the British sponsorship of the Bloodhound Supersonic Car (SSC) took place in Centurion earlier this month ahead of the car’s arrival in South Africa, in 2016, for its attempt to break the world landspeed record with a design speed of 1 690 km/h.

The Bloodhound SSC, which was built in the UK, was scheduled to attempt the record on a 20 km track in Hakskeenpan, in the Northern Cape, late next year.

The Northern Cape provincial government provided support for the project by making the pan available and by employing more than 300 locals to remove stones and rocks from the site’s surface. This was done by hand to ensure that the natural plateau of the site was not compromised.

The Bloodhound project aims to inspire the next generation to see the value of science, technology, engineering and mathematics and aims to share iconic research and the development programme with a global audience.

Speaking at the sponsorship launch earlier this month, British high commissioner Judith Macgregor described the project as exciting and inspiring.

The UK was providing support for the project through its contribution of engineering skills, as well as financial support.

“We are proud that it is happening with British inspiration and that it is taking place in South Africa. The project is a rich vein of scientific collaboration. At least 1 000 schools in South Africa are linked to the project to [encourage] more learners to take up science,” she said.

South African Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom echoed Macgregor’s comments, and told Engineering News that the notion of pushing boundaries and producing technologies of excellence was exciting and important.

He stated that the youth needed to be excited about science and technology.

Further, from a tourism standpoint, he said, the project would put Hakskeenpan on the map.

“[South Africa was chosen] for its natural conditions. We have ideal geographic and climatic conditions and topography. There is no other place in the world suitable to host this event. The site is critically important,” said Hanekom.

The UK government’s chief scientific adviser, Mark Walport, said his government had supported the Bloodhound project from the outset and added that the partnerships with the various sponsors were a formal government endorsement of the uniqueness of the project.

Car manufacturer Rolls Royce was supplying its EJ200 jet engine with a 90 kN thrust; Norwegian/Finnish aerospace and defence group Nammo, the hybrid rockets with a thrust of 123 kN; and British car manufacturer Jaguar, a V8 engine supercharged at 550 bhp to drive the motor fuel pump.

The Bloodhound is 13.4 m long and 3.8 m in height, with a fully fuelled car mass of 7 786 kg.

Further, telecommunications giant MTN will be providing the Bloodhound team with high-speed connectivity through its data network, which will allow for real-time streaming of their attempt to break the land-speed record.

The attempt will be streamed to two-million viewers worldwide.

MTN will also provide voice and long-term evolution Internet connectivity for in-car Internet downloads for the team, high-definition video streaming, as well as high-speed Internet solutions by linking to a fibre point in Upington.

This will allow for videos and information to be uploaded on the Web so that the public is updated on every detail in real time.

Hanekom said the project would highlight South Africa’s potential for hosting science and technology projects that could excite the youth.

He added that the country faced significant challenges that needed to be tackled to allow the youth to do well in maths and science. The youth needed to “think big” and to be given the self-confidence to be among the world’s top engineers.

The Bloodhound project, said Hanekom, would speak about South Africa’s diversity and would show people a part of the country they had not heard of before.

“It will talk to people about a country that is incredibly diverse – geographically, climatically and culturally. When two-million people are watching something that is happening in a part of South Africa, it is wonderful, and, more importantly, it has educational value and inspirational value, while demonstrating our ability to host these kinds of events,” he stated.