0:00:05 > 0:00:09This is Blue Peter - but mini.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12Expect epic adventures, makes, bakes,
0:00:12 > 0:00:13badges, pets,
0:00:13 > 0:00:15presenters and your post.
0:00:15 > 0:00:20We've only got five minutes, so get ready for your Blue Peter adventure.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23On BP, we absolutely love a challenge.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26But I've come to Cornwall to meet a team who may love pushing
0:00:26 > 0:00:28themselves to the limit even more.
0:00:29 > 0:00:33In 1997, they set the record for the fastest speed ever
0:00:33 > 0:00:36travelled on land.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40Driving a car at 773 mph.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42But these guys don't think that's fast enough,
0:00:42 > 0:00:46so they're going to be attempting to break 1,000 miles per hour.
0:00:46 > 0:00:51I'll say that again - 1,000 miles per hour.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57And they're going to be using this - the Bloodhound SSC.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02Powered by a jet engine and a rocket,
0:01:02 > 0:01:05over the next few years, the team are hoping to break
0:01:05 > 0:01:08the land-speed record in South Africa
0:01:08 > 0:01:10and, eventually, reach 1,000 mph.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14But to get there, they need to do tests - lots of tests.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18- OK, Andy, happy with your car checks?- All good.
0:01:18 > 0:01:19Fire extinguisher's good.
0:01:19 > 0:01:21I've been given amazing access
0:01:21 > 0:01:25to help out at the team's latest trials.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28It's not every day you get a Bloodhound car into position.
0:01:29 > 0:01:33The engineering that will make this thing move is cutting-edge.
0:01:33 > 0:01:38It's got more horsepower than 800 family cars, and the inside of
0:01:38 > 0:01:43the rocket that powers it is twice as hot as the centre of a volcano.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45It took more than two years of work to get the car
0:01:45 > 0:01:47ready for today's testing.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52Today's test is just one step towards the final
0:01:52 > 0:01:54target of 1,000 miles an hour.
0:01:54 > 0:01:59But it will give the team an idea of how the car will react.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01Here to see it are local schools,
0:02:01 > 0:02:03eager to learn about the science of speed.
0:02:03 > 0:02:08And I'm discovering just how heavy all that technology can be.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12Am I pushing this on my own? Come on! It's not that light!
0:02:12 > 0:02:15An engine as big as this needs a bit of a kick-start,
0:02:15 > 0:02:18and I'm getting to do just that.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22- It's fairly heavy, but... - OK, yup, that is quite heavy.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26- OK. Pushing it in?- Push it. Push it, give it a good push.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29Driver RAF Wing Commander Andy Green
0:02:29 > 0:02:32holds the current land-speed record,
0:02:32 > 0:02:35and uses all his experience as he goes through final safety checks.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38I cannot imagine what's going through Andy's head
0:02:38 > 0:02:42as he prepares to go at 200 mph.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45This has gone from being really fun and a bit of a laugh
0:02:45 > 0:02:48to quite serious.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51Everyone is really focused.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53Everything is set.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55It's time to see what this car can do.
0:02:57 > 0:03:02Runway 1-2, surface wind is six o'clock at 1-3 knots.
0:03:02 > 0:03:03OK, Andy's in position.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05It's go time.
0:03:07 > 0:03:093-0, Delta, Mike.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12This is going to be loud.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19Look at the heat!
0:03:19 > 0:03:21He's moving!
0:03:24 > 0:03:26Woo!
0:03:27 > 0:03:2910, 9,
0:03:29 > 0:03:308...
0:03:32 > 0:03:345, 4
0:03:34 > 0:03:363, 2,
0:03:36 > 0:03:371.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39BLAST! Oh!
0:03:47 > 0:03:48Wow, that is fast!
0:03:48 > 0:03:53Bloodhound hits 200 mph for just a matter of seconds.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55Any longer and it could run out of runway.
0:03:55 > 0:04:00But in the open South African desert, that won't be a problem.
0:04:00 > 0:04:06I cannot imagine what 1,000 mph is going to look like.
0:04:06 > 0:04:07Unbelievable.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11And those few seconds seem to have wowed the crowd.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13I felt like the hairs on my neck were standing up.
0:04:13 > 0:04:17Really loud, it just sounded amazing.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19It's pretty nerve-racking,
0:04:19 > 0:04:22because you never know what could happen, going that fast.
0:04:22 > 0:04:26It was really cool and it sort of made me vibrate.
0:04:26 > 0:04:30For the team, it seems mission accomplished - for now.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33Hopefully, all of the kids enjoyed seeing...
0:04:33 > 0:04:35Well, I was going to say, the crowd were going wild.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38- They were loving it. - That's exactly what we're after.
0:04:38 > 0:04:39And that's why you're here.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41So that's almost like the dress rehearsal done.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44And now you're going to do the real thing in South Africa,
0:04:44 > 0:04:47at pretty much five times that speed. Do you think you can do it?
0:04:47 > 0:04:49I'm absolutely certain we're going to do it.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56Well, what an incredible day that was. I am genuinely in awe,
0:04:56 > 0:04:59and feeling totally inspired. Hopefully you are, too.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02And I guess all that's left to say is a huge good luck to the
0:05:02 > 0:05:05team in South Africa. I know they can get that world record.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09Join in every Thursday on CBBC.