EXTREME MACHINES – THE NEED FOR SPEED

“Fastest Man on Earth” follows Craig Breedlove, three-time hoider of the landspeed record, and Richard Noble, the current title hoider, in the build up to the record attempts. This fascinating programme features in-depth interviews with both men talking frankly about their hopes and expectations and follows them throughout the summer in training for the final countdown.

In 1997, Andy Green broke through the sound barrier in the jet powered Thrust SSC. This incredible achievement was celebrated around the world and Britain honoured Andy Green as a hero, the first man to break the sound barrier on land. Andy Green earned a place in the record books, but was he really the first? “Supersonic Landspeed” charts the history of those who risked their lives to break the landspeed record and examines how technology has evolved to make it happen.

After many trials and tribulations, we follow the continued attempts of Craig Breedlove and Richard Noble to achieve the elusive landspeed record. We follow Richard Noble’s tests and preparation in the Jordan desert and look at the new modifications to his car.

Bonneville Salt Flats is the spiritual home of landspeed racing. This exciting programme sees Al Teague, who beat the world record for wheel-driven cars in 1991, return there to defend his title against speed legend Don Vesco and his super car in the 1999 World Speed Finals.

This fascinating programme gains an insight into the lives of the title holders of “Fastest Man on Earth” who explain their obsesson with speed. Meet Andy Green who jets across the sound barrier in his Tornado jet and Pat Rummerfield, a quadriplegic who smashed the world landspeed record.

“Ultimate Speed Machines” looks at the most advanced extreme machines on the planet, beginning with arguably the most sophisticated of them all, the human being. Watch track champion and 200m world record holder Michael Johnson in action and take a look at a new British bike made of carbon fibre that promises to smash all speed records.