Bloodhound SSC is the latest record-breaking attempt by Richard Noble, whose Thrust SSC project was the first car to break the sound barrier, and in 1997 set the current land speed record at 763mph.

Now, Noble wants to break that record, and is hard at work on the Bloodhound with his team, with the aim of getting the car to 1,000 miles per hour, just millimetres from the ground.

To reach this speed, the Bloodhound SSC will use both rocket and jet propulsion.

The first round of testing on the project - which will cost £6.5m - began last month, with a successful static evaluation of the thrust chamber. The car will be powered by a Eurojet EJ2000 from the Eurofighter Typhoon, as well as a Falcon Rocket, with an 800bhp V12 race engine used to provide hydraulic power. It will be tested for the first time in June 2011.

The Bloodhound SSC project has been working with more than 2,300 schools to encourage children across the country to become more involved in science and engineering. Bloodhound is also working on a university initiative, which provides undergraduate students with an insight into the design challenges faced by the engineering team.

A full-scale model of the remarkable-looking Bloodhound SSC, which is eight metres long and two metres high, will be on display in the new Stuff Zone at The PistonHeads Performance Car Show, held at the NEC in Birmingham on 14-17 January 2010. The Stuff Zone is a newly-formed area and will showcase some of the leading and latest technological innovations.

Project Director, Richard Noble, said: "I wasn`t quite sure what would happen when we attended Autosport International in 2009, because the Land Speed Record is often viewed as a non-mainstream activity. In fact, the Bloodhound team was overwhelmed to the point of exhaustion with the public`s enthusiasm and support.

"Now that we are able to progress to the huge Bloodhound build programme, I am looking forward to a great experience as we bring everyone up-to-date in January."

"As the show aims to be `at the cutting-edge of technology`, it is fitting that we are there with the world`s most technically-advanced record car design," said pilot Andy Green.

"The whole aim of Bloodhound is to get students interested in technology and engineering and the show provides the perfect platform to get them involved. This is a great opportunity for us to show children of all ages just how exciting science and engineering can be!"

PistonHeads Show Director, Ian France, said: "The Bloodhound project demonstrates the wider opportunities available to motorsport through aerospace and advanced engineering, as well as inspiring a new generation of young engineers. We are delighted that this very exciting project will be on display at the show."

For more information please visit www.autosport-international.com.

NOTES FOR EDITORS
:: The PistonHeads Show has joined forces with the UK`s market-leading entertainment and gadget magazines, Stuff and What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision to create the Stuff Zone with What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision.
:: This newly-formed area aims to showcase the leading and latest innovations in hi-fi, home cinema and technology, incorporating some of the biggest and best brands from the hi-fi and entertainment industries.
:: The PistonHeads Show is part of Autosport International, Europe`s largest motorsport show and is the sister product for www.pistonheads.com.
:: PistonHeads.com is one of the world`s biggest and fastest growing online communities in the automotive sector, with 2.5 million unique visitors each month.
:: Twenty years of success for Europe`s largest motorsport show will be celebrated at Autosport International in 2010.
:: Tickets are now on sale for the public show, which is
held at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, on
16/17 January. Adult tickets start at £29 per day, with
children`s tickets costing from £19. To book, please visit
http://www.autosport-show.com, or call 0844 579 3188.
:: Hi-res images and the Show logo are available on
request from Melissa Wicks .