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Bloodhound supersonic car project saved | Bloodhound supersonic car project saved |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A 1,000mph race car project has been saved after an entrepreneur stepped in to buy the business. | A 1,000mph race car project has been saved after an entrepreneur stepped in to buy the business. |
The Bloodhound supersonic vehicle - built with a jet engine bolted to a rocket - is all but finished. | The Bloodhound supersonic vehicle - built with a jet engine bolted to a rocket - is all but finished. |
Its future was in jeopardy amid a failure to secure investment which forced the firm financing it into administration. | Its future was in jeopardy amid a failure to secure investment which forced the firm financing it into administration. |
But Yorkshire-based entrepreneur Ian Warhurst has bought the project for an "undisclosed amount". | But Yorkshire-based entrepreneur Ian Warhurst has bought the project for an "undisclosed amount". |
Mr Warhurst, the managing director of Barnsley engineering firm Melett, said it would have been "criminal" not to continue with the record attempt. | Mr Warhurst, the managing director of Barnsley engineering firm Melett, said it would have been "criminal" not to continue with the record attempt. |
"There's a bit more sorting of the car to do, but nothing major, to get to that first step of testing it at high speed," he said. | "There's a bit more sorting of the car to do, but nothing major, to get to that first step of testing it at high speed," he said. |
"That's what made it such a shame, because they had got as far as they had. It just had to carry on." | "That's what made it such a shame, because they had got as far as they had. It just had to carry on." |
Administrator Andrew Sheridan said: "Ian has a strong background in managing highly successful businesses in the automotive engineering sector and he will bring considerable expertise to bear in taking the project forward." | Administrator Andrew Sheridan said: "Ian has a strong background in managing highly successful businesses in the automotive engineering sector and he will bring considerable expertise to bear in taking the project forward." |
The Bristol-based team behind the Bloodhound project aims to beat the existing land speed world record of 763mph (1,228km/h). | The Bristol-based team behind the Bloodhound project aims to beat the existing land speed world record of 763mph (1,228km/h). |
It is due to attempt to reach a record-breaking speed in South Africa, where an 18km-long (11-mile), 1,500m-wide (4,921ft) track at Hakskeen Pan in the Northern Cape has been prepared. | It is due to attempt to reach a record-breaking speed in South Africa, where an 18km-long (11-mile), 1,500m-wide (4,921ft) track at Hakskeen Pan in the Northern Cape has been prepared. |
Previous test runs at Newquay Airport in 2017 saw Bloodhound reach speeds of 200mph (320km/h). | Previous test runs at Newquay Airport in 2017 saw Bloodhound reach speeds of 200mph (320km/h). |
The project planned on running on Hakskeen Pan towards the end of 2019, when the water in the lakebed evaporated and the ground had become dry. | The project planned on running on Hakskeen Pan towards the end of 2019, when the water in the lakebed evaporated and the ground had become dry. |
The Bloodhound, using a Rolls-Royce Eurofighter engine alongside a rocket, was then due to be tested at 500-600mph (800-965km/h) before approaching its top speed in further test runs during 2020 or 2021. | The Bloodhound, using a Rolls-Royce Eurofighter engine alongside a rocket, was then due to be tested at 500-600mph (800-965km/h) before approaching its top speed in further test runs during 2020 or 2021. |