Taken from Motor sport, December 1997, How we broke the Sound Barrier

There were never any problems with ThrustSSC just opportunities. The first came with the completion of the Thrust2 project, and the achievement of the first British World Land Speed Record since Donald Campbell’s record in 1964. We were the best in the world again and there was every expectation the record would be retaken by well funded Americans the following year. I talked to our sponsors about keeping the team together for the Thrust3 supersonic car. The sponsors were a wise lot and made it clear there was to be a new opportunity – no funding for Thrust3.

But there was always the lingering doubt; with Thrust2 we were the best in the world and without doubt the programme had been the most exciting experience of my life. It seemed criminal to leave the speed at Mach 0.84. But faced with sponsor withdrawal, the way forward was not obvious.