An Australian team has launched a campaign to break the world land speed record, currently held by the British at 1,223km/h.
The Aussie Invader 5R is being built in Perth, WA by land speed legend and Driver Rosco McGlashan OAM and his team. The rocket-powered title contender features the world’s fastest wheel, capable of withstanding speeds of 1,000mph (1,600km/h), and a 200,000hp rocket engine featuring a liquid oxygen and bio-kerosene injector interface system. The campaign is progressing well with the body of the vehicle now constructed and key components such as the wheels and the motor being produced in Australia.
Aussie Invader 5R will run on four solid, tireless aluminium wheels, each weighing 140kg, spinning independently and capable of rotating at 10,000rpm. The car’s rocket motor is capable of producing 28,000kg of thrust, making it the world’s most powerful car. McGlashan and the car will break the sound barrier by close to one and a half times and will be travelling faster than a bullet fired from a handgun.
McGlashan said that much of the work involved in the Aussie Invader 5R was pushing the boundaries of vehicle engineering and a range of Australian and international experts were contributing to the campaign: “Producing these wheels is a good example of the many years of research, design and development by the Aussie Invader team and it is a testament to the hard work and skills of those involved with the project.”
As the race to the world land speed record and breaking the 1,000mph mark heats up between the Australian and British teams, McGlashan is confident of the team’s chances in the land speed battle.
“We’ve got the best people in the world working to get us to the start line and then across the finish line first,” said McGlashan. “It’s a fierce but friendly competition between our British rivals Bloodhound SSC but we’re well progressed with our build and will be firing up our rocket next year.”
One of McGlashan’s next tasks is to look for potential test and track sites in Australia that could be considered alongside the options in the United States. A geographic search of Australia has revealed a potential site in Queensland.