The Bloodhound LSR team are now set to conduct their first full test run at Hakskeen Pan track in South Africa in Autumn 2019
The team behind the supersonic car are planning a series of tests that include high-speed tests of aerodynamics, handling, desert wheels and parachutes in the next few weeks. The tests will take place on a dry lake bed race track at Hakskeen Pan, Northern Cape, South Africa, before the end of the month.
This will be the first full test of the cars potential following on from a successful 200mph (320km/h) UK runway trials at Cornwall Airport Newquay in October 2017.
The team will be targeting a speed of 500mph (800km/h). This is a key milestone on the journey to setting a new world land speed record.
However, it won’t be until late 2020 that a formal attempt at the record is made.
Bloodhound 2.0
The test will be the first major milestone since Bloodhounds relaunch in March 2019.
Since being saved the team have been working on both the logistics of deploying the team and car to the Kalahari Desert and converting the car from its runway design to a new high-speed testing spec.
This has included uprating springs and dampers on the vehicle as well as adding the parachute braking system, additional air pressure and load sensors, and fire detection and suppression system.
Taking aim at the land speed record in a digital age
The Bloodhound LSR team’s attempt on the world land speed record will be the first series attempt at breaking the record in the digital era.
New tech is allow the team to approach the record in a completely different data-driven way than past record breakers.
Modern technology means that data from hundreds of sensors across the car can be shared in real-time to allow engineers across the world to see exactly how the car is behaving as it dices with physics.
The latest set of South Africa trials will enable the team to test this data distribution system, as well seeing how well live video streaming at high speeds works.
The trials represent a full dress rehearsal ahead of next years record-breaking campaign. Giving the Bloodhound team time to develop their operational procedures, and perfect the car for a desert record run.
