1,000mph car fired up... for 20 seconds

The mission to produce the world’s first 1,000mph car took a mammoth step forward as the engine was fired up for the first time in front of a global audience of millions.

But after months of planning, it was all over in just a few seconds.

Engineers behind the £10m (€12.5m) Bloodhound supersonic car project said they were immensely satisfied with the landmark test of its hybrid rocket system, which was given the once-over in a hardened air hanger at Newquay Cornwall airport.