Following uncertainties on the ThrustSSC rear wheel steering system, a further low speed 120mph run was made on the 27th to evaluate the effect of fitting the Spax steering dampers. The car suffered a major electrics power failure at 114mph, later traced to a thermal cut out which reacted to the high 25C ambient temperature. It has become clear that the car must be operated below 25C to protect both the engines from reheat exhaust buzz and the delicate and complex electronic data management and active ride systems.

However the ThrustSSC steering performed well and the Thrust Design Team has now cleared the car to 200 and then 320mph which will be carried out today - the 29th May. The 320mph run will use minimum afterburner and when successful will have brought the team to the highest speed reached in 1996.

Richard Noble, ThrustSSC Project Director stated: 'I hope that today we will be able to reach our targets of 200 and then 320mph - these are air speed indicator readings and correspond to vehicle ground speeds of 225 and 350mph. If we can do this satisfactorily, then we are cautiously optimistic that our rear wheel steer problems may be behind us. The way is then wide open for a rapid increase in vehicle speeds and a return to UK to prepare for the US supersonic runs starting September 02.'

In addition there has been considerable achievement in course preparation with a total of 35.5 miles of track now prepared cleaned and lined with the white soluable Ghia limewash, normally used for painting the external walls of local houses. Thrust has become one of the largest local users of the product.

With daily internet reports and the new Thrust Global Radio reports which allow radio stations all over the World to use copyright free quality digital audio reports, the Internet accesses are now rising sharply. On the 27th the rate hit 40,000/day and on the 28th 50,000 - this is a direct measure of the projects popularity which comes from over 100 countries. The first weekly target of 350,000 is now in sight - with further Jordan targets of 700,000/week and 1,000,000/week not so far away.

This is a copyright free report service provided by ThrustSSC. A complimentary copyright free service which includes reports and quality digital photos appears on the ThrustSSC Digital Web Site - please access on http://thrustssc.digital.co.uk. There will be a further report tomorrow.

Contact ThrustSSC at thrust.news@battlement.digital.co.uk

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