autos

Hope for Bloodhound LSR project as sponsor talks start again


As he never fails to do, Green emphasised the Bloodhound project’s ability to engage the public with the world of engineering. “Is there an engineering need for the technology behind the Bloodhound LSR project? No, but there is a need to excite and inspire the public about aspects of the endeavour.

“When we first told Lord Drayson, whose idea the project was, that we wanted to go for 1000mph, he said our real aim should be using the car to get youngsters to talk about following engineering as a career. Right then, Bloodhound became an engineering adventure and today we’re in a good place to continue it.”

Green is an inspiring speaker and hugely invested in the Bloodhound project but since the car was launched, electrification and concern for the planet have moved centre stage, leaving the jet-powered vehicle and the land speed record looking increasingly out of step. David Turton, mechanical design engineer at McMurtry, the company developing the Spiérling electric hypercar, reminded the audience that the first car to exceed 100kph (62mph) was electric, in 1899. Jonny Swinhoe, programme manager of the McLaren Elva, the car maker’s lightest road car, and also responsible for the McLaren Senna GTR, speculated on the future of an electric land speed record. “A sub-1000kg LSR EV would seem very relevant to me.” 

Don Wales agreed. “An LSR EV weighing less than 1000kg is a more relevant record to aim for but the high speed that Bloodhound is targetting has the glamour.”



READ SOURCE

Leave a Reply

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.