1,000mph Target for British Car 英国制造时速达1000英里/小时的高速汽车

A British team has begun building a car designed to smash all previousland speed records and go faster than even the speed of sound.

The supersonic car, called Bloodhound, is expected to reach an awe-inspiring 1,000mph (1,610km/h), while sound travels at around 760mph (1,223km/h).

The car, which looks more like a plane without wings thanks to its sleek, aerodynamic frame, will also travel much faster than most passenger aircraft, which is why the man chosen to drive it is actually a pilot.

Wing Commander Andy Green will be in the hot seat for the car's record attempt, and is hoping to break the present land speed record of 763mph (1,228km/h) which he himself set in 1997.

The time trial is scheduled for 2011 and will take place on a 10-mile-long track in a desert in South Africa.

But while achieving such speeds would undoubtedly be a major accomplishment, Andy Green says the project is about more than this.

He said the aim was to "create an iconic project that can inspire the nation and the nation's schools to have an interest in science and engineering."

"If it gets kids from around the world motivated and we only get to 950mph (1,529km/h) then it'll be worth it. If we get to 1,000mph and nobody cares then we'll have failed."

While you're unlikely to have the chance to drive such a car yourself, you will be able to watch the attempt on television.

"It will be unmissable television," said Green.

"It will be very hot and noisy with a violent acceleration and deceleration which will feel pretty much like a crash.

"But as long as all four wheels stay on the ground, everything else we can deal with."

• previous [´pri:viəs]   a.先，前，以前的   (初中英语单词)
• actually [´æktʃuəli]   ad.事实上；实际上   (初中英语单词)
• commander [kə´mɑ:ndə]   n.指挥员，司令员   (初中英语单词)
• undoubtedly [ʌn´dautidli]   ad.无疑地，确实地   (初中英语单词)
• project [prə´dʒekt, ´prɔdʒekt]   v.设计；投掷 n.计划   (初中英语单词)
• inspire [in´spaiə]   v.鼓舞；使感悟；吸入   (初中英语单词)
• violent [´vaiələnt]   a.强暴的；猛烈的   (初中英语单词)
• accomplishment [ə´kʌmpliʃmənt]   n.完成；成就；才艺   (高中英语单词)
• unlikely [ʌn´laikli]   a.不像的；未必可能的   (英语六级单词)