Wanted: The fastest driver in the world

Do you think you’re fast behind the wheel? Want to prove it and drive to nearly 1300km/h? Well, you’re in luck, because the team behind the world land speed record Bloodhound project is looking for a new driver.

The organisers of the project are looking for drivers who want to try and tame the jet-powered machine, while also helping to fund the attempt on the current record. Current land speed record holder, former jet pilot Wing Commander Andy Green, was expected to try and drive the Bloodhound car to 1287km/h (800mph) several years ago, but the project has been plagued by funding issues from the start.

It has been 15 years in the making so far, and current owner, Ian Warhurst, is looking for £12 million ($23m) to finally bring it to completion. Aside from the cost of developing the car, the project required clearing a special track to run on in South Africa, which required years of cleaning to ensure a safe surface to try and achieve the wild target speeds.

Green will remain with the Bloodhound team and will act as a mentor and coach to whoever wants to try their hand behind the wheel. And they will need to be well-trained because Bloodhound is far from a typical car.

It’s powered by a Nammo rocket motor as well as a Rolls-Royce jet engine and is run on carbon neutral synthetic jet fuel in a bid to promote cleaner energy alternatives. So the ideal candidate will either need experience flying jet planes (like Green) or have raced cars at a very high level, according to the team.

The new driver isn’t expected to bring all £12m in missing funding, with the hope being that by adding a new driver it will increase publicity and attract more sponsorship.

Bloodhound is attempting to beat the current record, set by Green in 1997 in ThrustSSC and reaching 1227km/h and, in doing so, becoming the first land-based vehicle to break the sound barrier.