The President of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), Jean Todt, has delivered a personal thanks to the Mier community in Northern Cape, South Africa, for their hard work and dedication in preparing the Hakskeen Pan for land speed racing. He also described the BLOODHOUND Project as “very exciting for us at the FIA”.

Over 300 members of the local Mier community have removed 16,000 tonnes of rock from 22 million square metres of dry lake bed at Hakskeen Pan, where BLOODHOUND SSC will attempt to beat the World Land Speed Record in October 2017. This makes it the largest area of land ever cleared by hand for a motor sports activity.

In a recorded message, Jean Todt said, “On behalf of the FIA, and everyone associated with the BLOODHOUND Project, I can only add my thanks to everyone that has been a part of the Hakskeen desert track team.

“The work you have done in preparing the track has been a real contribution to this endeavour and I’m sure, should it prove to be successful, the credit will be shared with you as an essential part of the Project.”

Todt went on to declare that, “Motor sport has a human heart; your work is a fine example of this human side.” He concluded by wishing the Project “a successful conclusion”.

About the FIA

The FIA is global motor sport’s governing body, and is responsible for managing the categories and setting the regulations for all world records for any wheeled vehicles on land, apart from motorcycles. This includes the World Land Speed Record that BLOODHOUND will attempt to capture in October 2017 in South Africa.