The BLOODHOUND SSC Project
The BLOODHOUND SSC Project is a World Land Speed Record attempt aiming to inspire young people to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM subjects) by show-casing them in the most exciting way possible – by building a car capable of reaching 1,000 mph.

BLOODHOUND SSC education and engagement – Inspiring the next generation

The BLOODHOUND SSC engineering adventure provides a once in a lifetime opportunity to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. The project is unique when compared to other ground breaking engineering ventures in that all the information about the research, design, build and testing of the car is available to teachers and students, and of course to anyone that wishes to visit the website.

BLOODHOUND Education Programme
Click here to access Bloodhound Education STEM resources

In many of the developed countries worldwide there is a shortage of scientists, engineers and mathematicians and we therefore urgently need our young people to be motivated to enjoy and study science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects at school and then at university. The BLOODHOUND Project is endeavouring to be the catalyst through which young people will acquire the skills and develop innovative talents that will enable them to overcome the challenges we face on a global scale.

An independent study by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) in Britain concluded that the BLOODHOUND Education Programme provides a genuine ‘hook’ to get children interested in science and engineering. Unlike typical commercial or proprietary projects, BLOODHOUND openly shares the engineering problems of attaining 1,000 mph, and contributes to several hundred mathematics, science, and engineering programmes in Britain alone. Over 3,000 schools have joined the project’s education programme, from primary schools to universities. In addition, Intel is working to integrate Bloodhound problems into the skoool.com e-learning platform.

World Land Speed Record run site

The BLOODHOUND team scoured the globe looking for the perfect run location on which to make their attempt on the World Land Speed Record. The site needed to fulfil some very specific criteria: It had to be 10 miles long, have one mile of clear run off at each end, be dead flat, and firm enough to support a 6.5 tonne car moving at speed.

The search began with a computer programme that utilised space shuttle radar survey data and satellite imagery to identify potential locations. It produced several thousand possibilities, which were then whittled down using Google Earth. Following a rigorous process of elimination, the short list contained some 35 deserts and salt flats in Africa, the USA, and Australia. A more detailed survey found the ideal location in Africa: Hakskeen Pan, Northern Cape Province, South Africa.

Hakskeen Pan offers a 12 mile-long track across a perfectly flat dried-up lake bed. The surface is relatively free from debris and stones but it is crossed by a dirt track which will need to be removed prior to record-breaking runs in 2012.

The Project has received fantastic support from the Northern Cape Government, which has undertaken to prepare Hakskeen Pan for the World Land Speed Record runs as part of the Northern Cape’s development as a world-class adventure sports location.

Back to top