Trackside for the Bloodhound rocket car's first speed run

Meet the Bloodhound SSC, the rocket-powered car that in 2018 will attempt to hit 1,000 mph, beating the land speed record. 

Before that, I got up close and personal with the vehicle on its first speed test run in Cornwall, South-West England. 

Click through to see behind the scenes on what happened on the day.

The Bloodhound was being run on an airstrip in Cornwall. I had to get there extremely early in the morning to see the car in the hangar. 

It's an imposing machine.

Numerous engineers were already on site, preparing the car for the run later that day.

More tinkering, with the Cornish flag on show.

A coffee truck was on site. It was popular, unsurprisingly.

In the foreground, the roof of the car which will be put into place once the driver gets inside.

And here is the driver, RAF Wing Commander Andy Green.

As sunlight started to creep out, the car was pushed out of the hangar to display it to the world's press.

It was great to see the 13-metre (44-foot) -long car in one piece.

A final team huddle before the car is taken to the airstrip.

How do you take a 5-tonne car to the track? By towing it in a Volvo, of course.

It's designed to go in a straight line when it's doing its actual speed run, so its turning circle isn't good. To turn it, the engineers lift it onto casters.

It's pulled toward the track.

It's pushed by the teams for the last few steps.

Final checks take place.

Driver Andy Green gives it his own once over.

Everything is ready to go.

Around 4,000 members of the public gathered to watch the speed run.

"To see the crowd reaction, and seeing the kids get excited, that's very special. That is the object, not to break a record -- we already have the record (Ayers worked on the Thrust SSC car, which still holds the record at 763 mph) -- we're doing it to inspire young people and what inspires young people more than high speed cars!" explained Ron Ayers, aerodynamic designer for the Bloodhound.

The Bloodhound project has toured numerous schools around the country, hoping to inspire more children to take up engineering.

The car pulls away.

Off it goes! The cone of flame, together with the ear-splitting roar of the engine makes for an impressive show. It's all over in a matter of seconds.

"This is a car that's designed to cruise supersonic on a 12-mile track in South Africa," Andy Green said. "It is not designed to be driven like a drag racing car on a short concrete track at Cornwall airport. Despite that, the car just delivered in spades."

Lots of people brought cameras to try and capture the car. 

Andy Green, sitting in the cockpit.

This electrical box was the starter motor which helped the car start up.