Castrol has become lubes partner for the Bloodhound supersonic car.
Bloodhound Image: Siemens NX |
With one year to go, progress continues on the Bloodhound, with Castrol being the latest organisation to join the UK-based project.
Bloodhound is targeting a 1000mph (1609kph) land speed record with current record holder, fighter pilot Andy Green, once again in the cockpit. The attempt will be made at Hakskeen Pan, South Africa in 2015.
Bloodhound is being developed by Richard Noble, inspiration and driver (or should that be pilot?) of the Thrust 2 world record car and its successor, Thrust SSC. The latter was driven by Green and both vehicles used Castrol lubes.
With 135,000 hp of thrust from its Eurofighter Typhoon turbofan and Nammo rocket engines, Castrol's scientists will be working at the very leading edge of lubricants technology to provide engine, brake and hydraulic fluids. Some of the technology will be taken from that previously used by NASA and Formula 1 motorsport.
The world land speed record has been broken 21 times, including:
- Gaston de Casseloup-Laubat (Fr) - electric Jentaud Duc - 39.214 mph (63.15 kmh) in 1898
- Sir Malcolm Campbell (GB): Bluebird - 206.9 mph (333 kph) in 1928.
- Craig Breedlove (US) - Spirit of America turbojet - 407.4 mph (655.6 kph) in 1963
- Richard Noble (GB): Thrust 2 turbojet - 63mph (1019 kph) in 1983
- Andy Green (GB) : Thrust SSC turbofan - 763mph (1227 kph) in in 1997