World's fastest car arrives in the city

Bloodhound SCC, which travels faster than a speeding bullet, will be at Magna this month at the annual Get Up To Speed event, which is aimed at getting young people into engineering, manufacturing and technology.

The car is being built to attempt to set a new 1,000 mph land speed record in South Africa later this year. Its construction is being followed by school children across the globe in a project designed to stimulate interest in science.

The Get Up To Speed event, which is the biggest of its kind in Yorkshire, is supported by both Rotherham and Sheffield councils and organised by Sheffield-based charity the work-wise Foundation.

John Barber, of the work-wise Foundation, said: “Bloodhound is the ultimate demonstration of British engineering and technology and it’s amazing to think many of the parts for the car are designed and manufactured in Sheffield.

“We hope people will be inspired by this truly remarkable piece of engineering.”

The super-sonic car, which can cover a mile in just 3.6 seconds, is a mix of car and aircraft technology, powered by both a jet engine and a rocket.

John Silker, chief executive of Magna, said: “We get some fantastic, inspirational events coming to Magna, and this has to be one of the most exciting. It also feels very apt that this building, which at one time housed the biggest steel works in Europe, is now welcoming the fastest car in the world.

“Industry has moved on, but Magna still plays a part in inspiring the scientists and engineers of the future.”

The event on April 20 is free to attend, and is open to schools and the public from 10am to 6pm.