A jet-powered supersonic car has hit 334 mph during testing ahead of its attempt to shatter the land speed record.
The Bloodhound LSR began speed trials in the Kalahari Desert in South Africa last week.
Driven by British RAF Wing commander Andy Green, the high-speed motor is attempting to hit the 1,000 mph mark next year.
The current land speed record was set by the UK pilot in 1997 when his Thrust supersonic car hit 763 mph in a Nevada desert.
Engineers for the team are gradually inching closer to the mark by speeding up by 50 mph each day in a bid to hit 500 mph.
The 334mph test is a huge milestone for the motor, with it easily surpassing its previous fastest speed of 200 mph.
Powered by a EuroFighter jet engine with three Nammmo rockets, the Bloodhound LSR can produce 135,000 thrust horsepower – which is the equivalent of more than 150 Formula One Cars.
And at full speed, the supersonic car can cover a mile in just 3.6 seconds.
Andy Green, Bloodhound driver and current World Land Speed Record holder, said: “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.
“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.”
“I’ve been impressed with the tenacity of the team to work through a challenging first week of testing in the Kalahari Desert. With all those issues resolved it’s exciting to be moving into the high-speed phase of the testing and get a max reheat run under our belts,” said Ian Warhurst, chief executive of Bloodhound LSR.
“Witnessing Bloodhound blasting from 50 mph to 300 mph in 13 seconds and on to 334 mph was jaw-dropping. British engineering at its finest.”
Ref;nypost.com