Rolex Teams Up With a Supersonic Car to Set a World Speed Record

Rolex Teams Up With a Supersonic Car to Set a World Speed Record

Adrienne Faurote
By Adrienne Faurote May 16, 2014
Спидометр и хронограф, разработанные Rolex для Bloodhound SSC
The speedometer and the chronograph developed by Rolex for Bloodhound SSC.

Rolex, which has a long history in the automotive world, has unveiled an especially unique collaboration with Bloodhound SSC, the UK-based manufacturers of a supersonic car.

As part of the partnership, Rolex has created a chronograph and a speedometer especially for Bloodhound SSC’s pencil-shaped supersonic car, a model which engineers hope will break the 1,000mph barrier and set a new world land speed record.

Внешний вид рекордного болида
The exterior of the supersonic car.

At the heart of Bloodhound SSC supersonic model is a Cosworth CA2010 Formula 1 V8 engine combined with a jet engine and a rocket. To complement this behemoth of power, Rolex created a speedometer for the interior of the car that is graduated up to 1,100 mph to accommodate measurement of any broken records. Rolex also created a mechanical chronograph. These two analog instruments sit on the car’s dashboard.

Position of the devices in the pilot's cockpit
Position of the devices in the pilot’s cockpit.

Bloodhound SSC’s car, which is still in development, was designed by a group of engineers under the guidance of Richard Noble. Noble’s previous company Thrust SSC previously created the first car to officially break the sound barrier on land and to achieve a speed of 763 mph, the current world land speed record.

Andy Green wearing a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona in the supersonic car.

A test of the supersonic car is scheduled to take place in South Africa in 2015/2016. Bloodhound SSC has hired the very same driver as Thrust SSC to pilot the Bloodhound, former UK Air Force pilot Andy Green.