HUNDREDS of Notts schoolchildren are being given the chance to get involved with a new world record attempt.
Richard Noble, who held the world land speed record between 1983 and 1997, launched the Bloodhound project at County Hall last night.
A total of 100 schools across the county will take part in the project to develop a supersonic car. It aims to break the land speed record, which currently stands at 763mph.
Notts County Council is funding the £100,000 project and Mr Noble said such schemes are vital if Britain is to recover from the recession.
"We've got a big problem in the country in terms of a national shortage of engineers and scientists," said Mr Noble.
"Way back in the 1960s young people were inspired by the tremendous and burgeoning aerospace industry and the innovative pioneering spirit of the engineers of the day.
"Today one of our biggest problems is the lack of such inspirational projects, and Bloodhound is our contribution to the situation."
Every part of Bloodhound and the data produced will be uploaded to the internet for teachers and children.
Teachers can then take the data and use it to give relevance science, technology, engineering and maths lessons. Educational material is also available.
Mr Noble said children involved in the project would learn about the physics involved in the operation, structures and models of the car, carbon fibre, why the car is the shape it is, geographical impact and human relations.
"We are not here to teach. All we are doing is providing an exciting project which teachers can use to inspire and excite pupils," said Mr Noble.
"They can follow this day by day as it all develops and they might come up with good ideas of their own that we haven't thought of."
Once the car is built it will be tested on a desert in South Africa.
The world record attempt is expected to take place in 2014.
As part of the Bloodhound project a life-size replica of the car was at County Hall yesterday, where Mr Noble also urged business leaders to help develop the next generation of scientists and engineers.
Tomorrow the car will be at the National Water Sports Centre and Rufford Country Park, where pupils will take part in a variety of activities.
The 100 schools taking part include Tollerton Primary, Broomhill Junior School, in Hucknall, and Lowdham C of E Primary.
County Council leader Kay Cutts added: "The input of employers into education is becoming increasingly critical in educating students about the relevance of science and engineering in their everyday lives and the career opportunities that are available, as well as helping to sustain the local economy by building a bank of highly skilled, technology-literate pupils for the future."
For more information about Bloodhound see www.bloodhoundssc.com
