The Fastest Kettle In The World

The Press Association reports that a second attempt to break a century-old world land speed record for steam-powered vehicles is being made by a British team.

The 25ft-long British Steam Car – dubbed the “fastest kettle in the world” – is aiming to beat a speed of 127mph reached by American Fred Marriott in a Stanley steam car in 1906 at the Daytona Beach Road Course.

Weighing three tons, the British Steam Car is made from a mixture of lightweight carbon-fibre composite and aluminium wrapped around a steel space frame chassis.

Using Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG), the car is fitted with 12 boilers containing nearly two miles of tubing. Demineralised water is pumped into the boilers at up to 50l a minute and the burners produce three megawatts of heat.

Steam is superheated to 400C and injected into the turbine at more than twice the speed of sound. Large Goodyear tyres and brake discs help bring it to a stop, and the car is also kitted with a parachute.

The British team hopes to overhaul the longest officially recognised land speed record by reaching a target velocity of 170mph with their car at Edwards Air Force Base in California.