Rolls in landspeed bid

A British legend is preparing to head to the Bonneville Salt Flats in the US to set a new performance record.

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Matt Davis

13th November 2006

Auto Express has learned that Rolls-Royce has its sights set on the 409mph Landspeed Record for piston-engined, wheel-driven cars. And while RR's German bosses at BMW would never normally give the go-ahead for the firm to take part in conventional motorsport activity, it has agreed that a Bonneville attempt is in keeping with the brand's image.

Rolls-Royce has a long association with landspeed record bids, most notably with Sir Malcolm Campbell's Bluebird machines in the Thirties. The spectacular streamliners were responsible for nearly every major speed record, and until the advent of the jet engine were the fastest cars on the planet. For this new attempt, the company has a turbocharged V16 engine capable of delivering in excess of 1,000bhp.

Interest in record breaking at Bonneville, Utah, has enjoyed a surge in popularity in recent years, thanks to Richard Noble and Andy Green's exploits, first with Thrust SSC and more recently with the JCB Dieselmax. The tractor firm is also looking at returning to the salt flats next year. But there are big challenges to the targets now being set - not least because of the tyres. As both cars will have driven wheels, they must use pneumatic tyres to provide traction, rather than Thrust SCC's aluminium. At very high speeds, pressures on the tyres are enormous.

More news on Rolls-Royce's efforts is expected at January's Detroit Motor Show, where the new Corniche convertible is set to make its debut.