Following the announcement that Bloodhound LSR will be undertaking High Speed Testing in October 2019 (2019 HST), parent company Grafton LSR Ltd has confirmed that there will be no arrangements in place for public viewing of the test runs. Instead, the team is asking people to wait until the record runs to visit Hakskeenpan, due to significant infrastructure limitations in the area and the unpredictable test run schedule.
Bloodhound LSR CEO Ian Warhurst explained: “The testing we are planning this year is a private deployment that isn’t designed for spectators. We are not encouraging people to visit the area to try to watch the runs because the inherent nature of testing means there may be several days in between runs. We’re planning around 20 runs over four weeks and, due to the nature of the test programme, we won’t be able to confirm which days the car is running.
“I’m aware that Bloodhound’s loyal supporters have been waiting a long time for the car to run at Hakskeenpan and I’m hugely grateful for their continuing support. I also know some have been looking forward to travelling to the Pan to see the car do its test runs.
“However, having been there myself, I realise how difficult it would be to accommodate them without all the additional infrastructure planned for the record runs. So for now we’re asking people to wait until we return to South Africa and join us for the record runs instead.
“It’s also worth noting that to give ourselves the best chance of achieving a new world land speed record, our team needs to focus totally on the high speed testing when we are at the Pan this year. That means we’re unable to make any arrangements for supporters to view the runs or provide travel and other support.”
Infrastructure limitations
Hakskeenpan is a desert area in the Northern Cape of South Africa with very little accommodation or ‘life support’ facilities nearby.
When Bloodhound LSR and the team return for the record runs, the Northern Cape Government is planning to provide extra infrastructure in the form of camping facilities, food, water and medical provision for the expected influx of extra tourism above and beyond the usual numbers of visitors. However, as 2019 HST is a private visit with no set timetable, there will be no additional facilities available this October.
How to follow 2019 HST
The Bloodhound team plans to keep everyone up to date with the results of the high speed testing via all possible news and social media outlets, so people can follow the action as it happens. Details of how to follow #2019HST will made be available nearer the time.
To receive this and all of the latest news about Bloodhound, please join our supporters’ club, it’s free.
