Bloodhound supersonic car driven by former Hartlepool man put up for sale after funding hit by pandemic
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The Bloodhound Land Speed Record car, driven by Andy Green who grew up in the town, aims to set a new world land speed record in South Africa in 2022.
The project was rescued in 2018 when it was bought by Bloodhound LSR’s current owner and Chief Executive Ian Warhurst.
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Hide AdHe is now stepping down from leading the project and looking for a new owner to take the team forward.
In a test run in 2019, the team achieved a peak speed of 628mph (1011 km/h) in the South Africa desert with Andy behind the wheel.
Work needs to start in the next few months, including to install a rocket to reach over 800mph, to get ready for the world record attempt next year. It will cost an estimated £8million.
But project leaders say the economic impact of the global Covid pandemic has severely impacted the search for fundraising and project timeline.
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Hide AdAndy, who went to High Tunstall School and father Tony Green was station officer at Hartlepool Fire Station in the 1970s, has been involved with Bloodhound for several years.
The ex-RAF fighter pilot holds the current world land speed record of 763mph set in the Thrust supersonic car in America in 1997.
He said: “In my opinion, the Bloodhound team has built the best Land Speed Record Car ever.
"It made our 628mph test run look easy! We’re now raring to get to 800mph+, to showcase this technical marvel and to invite a global audience to join in an incredibly exciting adventure.
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Hide Ad"After the horrible 2020 pandemic year we have all just experienced, the world needs a good news story, and Bloodhound is ready to deliver it.”
Ian added: “It has been a privilege to lead this team of world-class engineers over the past two years.
"At this stage, in absence of further, immediate, funding, the only options remaining are to close down the programme or put the project up for sale to allow me to pass on the baton and allow the team to continue the project."