West Country Bloodhound Project

Chancellor George Osborne has praised the work of the Bristol team behind the project to build the world's fastest car.

Speaking at the Conservative Conference in Manchester, he said the Bloodhound, which will aim to beat the world landspeed record, was an example of the pioneering work still being carried out in the UK.

Wing Commander Andy Green, is a Fighter Pilot with the R.A.F. and current World Land Speed Record holder. He will be the Bloodhound driver:

The next step in developing a rocket-powered car capable of travelling at one thousand miles an hour took place in Bristol today. The team behind the supersonic 'Bloodhound' unveiled their new technical headquarters.

The centre was opened by Science Minister David Willetts, who announced a one million pound grant for the project. Engineers hope the car will easily break the land speed record when they make an attempt in 2015. Jonty Messer reports:

The next step in developing a car that can break the land speed record took place in Bristol on Thursday.

The team behind 'The Bloodhound' unveiled their new technical centre as they continue working towards a car capable of reaching speeds of 1000 miles an hour.

ITV News West Country Reporter Jonty Messer went along:

David Willets, Minister for Universities and Science has opened the new Technical centre for The Bloodhound project in Bristol.

The supersonic car will attempt to break the land speed record in 2015.

The team of engineers are hoping the car will reach speeds of 1000mph in the South African desert smashing the existing record set back in 1997.

British engine maker Rolls-Royce is to sponsor for the first time a bid to break a world land speed record, it was announced today.

The company is backing the Bristol-based Bloodhound project, which is focused on travelling at over 1,000mph and breaking the world land speed record.

A Rolls-Royce EJ200 jet engine will be used in conjunction with a custom designed hybrid rocket.

Next year the Bloodhound team are hoping to travel to South Africa to break the current land speed record of 763mph. They then will target the 1,000mph barrier.