Automotive

Bloodhound supersonic car project rises once more

Bloodhound supersonic car project rises once more
Bloodhound SSC's immediate future has been secured thanks to a Yorkshire-based investor
Bloodhound SSC's immediate future has been secured thanks to a Yorkshire-based investor
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Bloodhound SSC's immediate future has been secured thanks to a Yorkshire-based investor
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Bloodhound SSC's immediate future has been secured thanks to a Yorkshire-based investor

It's been a rocky road since the Bloodhound supersonic car made its world debut in London in September 2015, almost 10 years after the company behind the project was founded. The Bloodhound team has hit some important milestones on its way to the target of breaking the 1,000 mph barrier – most recently rocketing to 210 mph in just eight seconds. But, as you might expect, development has proven costly and just last week it was announced that lack of funds had ended the project for good. Now a new backer has been found and it's on again.

Though Bloodhound Programme Ltd – the organization behind the project – was unsuccessful in finding a backer to keep the development program going, Bloodhound SSC said last week that its educational charity would continue through workshops and events, and would even grow in 2019.

Today the Bloodhound team has revealed that a Yorkshire-based entrepreneur has stepped in at the last minute to secure the future of the land speed record attempt. After seeing last week's grim news, Ian Warhurst jumped in and purchased all of the business and assets of Bloodhound Programme Ltd for an undisclosed amount.

"We have been overwhelmed by the passion that clearly exists for Bloodhound and are thrilled that we have been able to secure a buyer who is able to give this inspiring project a future," said joint administrator Andrew Sheridan. "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."

Warhurst will detail his plans for the future of Bloodhound SSC early in 2019.

Source: Bloodhound SSC

2 comments
2 comments
Erg
Great news. Go Bloodhound SSC
SimonClarke
While the project is awesome it has been operated on a shoe string since it's inception. I was working for a company back in 2008 when Richard Noble was floating this idea. He wanted people to work on it in the 'Public Spirit', which meant for free. For this type of project you need top not funding with a top notch plan. I wish them all the best but this really is dragging on.