Jaguar, owned by Tata Motors, has announced a major
partnership with British World Land Speed Record Team Bloodhound SSC to make
World Land Speed Record attempt in 2015 then target 1,000 mph (approx 1609kmph)
in 2016. Meanwhile, the new all-wheel-drive Jaguar F-Type R Coupe ensured the
Bloodhound SSC World Land Speed Record programme passed a significant
high-speed testing milestone.
The test marks the start of a major technical partnership
between Jaguar and The Bloodhound Project, with the ultimate aim of raising the
world land speed record above 1,000mph and to assist in inspiring the next
generation of scientists and engineers, which is the overall objective of the
project. The current record stands at 763.035mph (1228kmph approx.) and was set by Andy Green in Thrust SSC in
1997. Andy will drive the Bloodhound Supersonic car.
On the relatively soft surface of the Hakskeen Pan desert in
the Northern Cape of South Africa, the stability of the AWD F-Type R Coupé (the
car can reach 60mph in just 3.9-seconds with a limited top speed of 186mph) -
enabled the successful completion of a vital communications test for the
Bloodhound SSC team.
Ian Hoban, Vehicle Line Director, Jaguar said:"Our target
with engineering the all-wheel drive F-Type was to maintain the engaging
rear-drive character that's so important to Jaguar sports cars, yet offer even
greater dynamic capability. The result is a controllable, exploitable and
blisteringly fast performance car in all weather and road conditions."
The AWD F-Type R Coupé was driven flat-out by Bloodhound
Project Director and former World Land Speed Record holder, Richard Noble who
said, "We are absolutely delighted to announce Jaguar as a Main Partner to
the Bloodhound Project. This is a very fine match - Jaguar is very strong on
innovation and with its huge drive in advanced technology, education and
motorsport track record, we have the perfect partner. Together we have
developed outstanding inter-team synergy and this is a very special
relationship. We are proud to carry the
Jaguar branding on Bloodhound SSC."
Fitted with the same radio equipment as the jet and rocket
powered Bloodhound SSC, the F-Type was driven head-to-head at top speed with a
similarly equipped jet flown at 500mph and just 50 feet above the ground. The
combined closing speed of almost 700mph enabled the successful test of the
system that will allow communications between the ground crew and Andy Green in
Bloodhound SSC, which will run for the first time on the Hakskeen desert just 12
months from now.