Last year, the Bloodhound project looked dead in the water. Now, with new financing, it’s back on track

The new owners of Gloucestershire's beleaguered Bloodhound project are determined to move the car on to the next phase of high speed testing. As the Bloodhound Land Speed Record (LSR) team unveiled its new HQ at SGS Berkeley Green, owner Ian Warhurst - CEO of Grafton LSR Ltd - says he is focused on completing development of the jet and rocket-powered car.

Rebranded Bloodhound LSR, the car now has a striking red and white livery.

Ian said: "Since buying Bloodhound from the administrators last December, the team and I have been overwhelmed by the passion and enthusiasm the public have shown for the project. Over the last decade, an incredible amount of hard graft has been invested in the project and it would be a tragedy to see it go to waste.

"It's my ambition to let Bloodhound off the leash see just how fast this car can go. I'm confident there is a commercial business proposition to support it. I'll provide robust financing to ensure there is cashflow to hit the high-speed testing deadlines we set ourselves."

The UK Land Speed Record Centre at SGS Berkeley Green provides a 975sq m workshop, fulfilling Bloodhound's promise of delivering educational inspiration.

SGS Berkeley Green Group Chief Executive and Executive Principal Kevin Hamblin said: "We're excited that Bloodhound is joining us at Berkeley. To have such a groundbreaking engineering project on site which shares our philosophy to enthuse and encourage the next generation of engineers, designers and scientists, will be invaluable for our own students and also for thousands of young people across the region who will have an opportunity to visit the Gloucestershire Science and Technology Park over the next few years and see the car for themselves."

Ian is joined on the team by world land speed record holder Andy Green, Engineering Director Mark Chapman, Chief Financial Officer Rick Sturge, Operations Director Martyn Davidson, Commercial Director Ewen Honeyman and some of the original engineers.

Former CEO Bloodhound Programme Ltd Richard Noble, said "It was a hard fight to create the Bloodhound car, the largest STEM programme in the UK, the public engagement programme and the 1,000 man-year desert preparation.

"Our weakness had always been finance and now with Ian, the team finally has the financial support it needs to drive forward with confidence and achieve what we set out to 12 years ago."

For more information visit bloodhoundlsr.com.