Supersonic rocket car ‘Bloodhound’ test-fires its engine

The mission to produce the world’s first 1,000mph car took a major step forward yesterday as the engine was fired up for the first time in front of a global online audience of millions.

But after months of planning, it was all over in just a few seconds.

Engineers behind the £10 million Bloodhound supersonic car project said they were immensely satisfied with the landmark test of its hybrid rocket system, which was given the once-over in a hardened 
air hanger at Newquay Cornwall airport.

Although stationary, the high-powered engine roared triumphantly for barely 20 seconds before satisfied engineers closed the machine down.

Experts said the next step was to analyse the data to determine whether it is safe to install into a vehicle.

Rocket engineer Daniel Jubb said: “The initial indications are that it went very well indeed.

“It is heads down looking at the data now, it is probably going to take us a full ten days to look at that.

“Then we will be preparing for the next firing.

“We have a lot of safety testing to make sure we are happy to put this rocket into a man’s vehicle.”

Mr Jubb, 28, who left school at 13 to run his own company with his grandfather, said he had been getting by on less than two hour’s sleep for the past few nights as the final preparations for the car’s launch were made.

He said: “Bloodhound is a fantastic programme. Less than an hour before we fired the rocket we had children in asking questions, I hope that helps inspire the next generation.”