Video: Andy Green gives guided tour of cockpit in Bloodhound SSC land-speed record car

THE TEAM behind Britain’s land-speed record attempt has released pictures of what it calls the fastest office in the world.

Resembling something you would find in a fighter jet and featuring James Bondesque buttons and levers labelled “Parachute release”, “Air brake 1”, “Rocket fire trigger” and “Abort”, the cockpit is where Andy Green will sit when he attempts to break the 1,000mph barrier in the Bloodhound SSC — the world’s fastest car.

It has been tailored to Green’s dimensions and bolts directly to the car’s rear chassis. Built from super-strong carbon fibre, the front section must withstand high pressures at 1,000mph as well as being able to resist any impact from stones or debris thrown up by the wheels at high speeds. The cockpit is clad in ballistic armour to protect the driver.

One thing the cabin can’t quell is the noise created by the three incredibly loud power sources positioned behind it: the jet engine from a Eurofighter that will provide most of the thrust, the cluster of hybrid rockets that will push the car past 1,000mph and the racing car engine that drives the rocket’s oxidiser pump. The jet and rockets together generate the thrust of 180 Formula One cars. Collectively they will produce a noise level estimated at 140 decibels — equivalent to a constant gunshot blast.

Of course, if the team reach their target of going supersonic when the record attempt takes place in South Africa in the winter of 2015-16, the car will outrun its own sound waves, creating a relatively serene few moments inside. Until Green begins to decelerate.