(14 Oct 1996) English/Nat The holder of the world land speed record has been showing off the car which he hopes will prove to be the fastest vehicle on earth. The Thrust Supersonic Car (S-S-C) went on show to the public on Monday as the British team led by Richard Noble prepares to set a new record of more than 800 miles per hour. The rocket-like vehicle, powered by two Rolls Royce jet engines, was displayed at the Defence Research Agency at Farnborough, Hampshire, in southern England. The current world land speed record holder Richard Noble was showing off his Thrust S-S-C at the Defence Research Agency at Farnborough in Hampshire. But the British project faces stiff competition from American speedster and former world record holder Craig Breedlove. The Thrust S-S-C will attempt to break the sound barrier and exceed 800 miles per hour. But first the car must go through various speed tests. Thrust S-S-C is powered by two Rolls Royce Spey engines of the type used in R-A-F Phantom fighters. The ten tonne, 54-foot long car will be driven by R-A-F Tornado fighter pilot, Andy Green. SOUNDBITE: "It's like, you know, a man walking on the moon. It's the four minute mile. It's climbing Everest. It's something that nobody has ever done before. It's something that no team has ever done before. We actually have a chance to push back the field of human endeavour, to do something new - to create a genuine world first." SUPER CAPTION: Andy Green, Thrust SSC Driver Noble, who holds the current record of 633 M-P-H, decided not to drive himself because organising the project was a big enough job for him. The car can accelerate to 100 miles per hour within four seconds and reach maximum speed in about 30 seconds. The next tests will come later this month when high speed trials start in the Al Jar desert in Jordan - a site used in the filming of Lawrence of Arabia. SOUNDBITE: "Well, we're going to get to Jordan. When we get to Jordan we hope to get up to 650 miles an hour. Then we go on to the next stage and I think you'll be surprised." SUPER CAPTION: Richard Noble, Project Director Special modifications enable the car to reach such high speeds. It is specially weighted at the front to prevent it leaving the ground. The engines swallow petrol and the car runs on solid aluminium tyres. It takes 29 seconds and 5.5 miles to reach a standstill from top speed, aided by parachutes and disc brakes from a Boeing 757 aircraft. Noble had hoped to race off against Breedlove's Spirit of America car in Nevada, USA scene of the 1983 triumph. But the necessary trials were not completed in time. Now it is likely the British record attempt will have to wait until next year. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/7b120506e513f333274d24f81eda4968