Bloodhound LSR Completes First Test Run On The Desert, Hits 334 MPH

The Bloodhound LSR team has successfully completed its first test on the Hakskeenpan desert racetrack, with the car hitting 334 mph (537 km/h) – the highest speed it has ever achieved.

The jet-powered car ran with the afterburner for 12 seconds, marking the true beginning of Bloodhound’s high speed test programme. 50 to 300 mph took 13 seconds, with more tests to be carried over over the next four weeks, targeting a top speed of over 500 mph for this testing programme.

Also Read: Bloodhound Land Speed Record Car Arrives In South African Desert For Testing

“We’ve had two very successful runs today, with the second run reaching a max speed of 334 mph – going from 50 mph to 300 mph in 13 seconds,” said Bloodhound driver and current World Land Speed Record holder Andy Green.

“There was strong cross wind gusting at over 15 mph and we’ve established that this is pretty much the limit for running in the car. We’re happy because this was a successful test, now we’re ready to progress on to higher speeds.”

The tests took place at a specially prepared track on the Hakskeenpan desert, measuring 12.4 miles (20.4 km) long. The first few runs on the track showed that the surface is firm but there’s a slight soft crust in some areas which luckily flakes away. The V-shaped wheel profiles of the car leave a shallow 50mm-wide groove on the track surface. The track was prepared by 317 workers from the local community.

The final record attempt of the Bloodhound LSR is expected to take place in late 2020, initially targeting to beat the previous record, which stands at 763.035mph (1,227.98 km/h). There’s no timetable set yet for Bloodhound LSR’s greater 1,000 mph target, which is considered a separate phase at the moment.