On Friday July 7, RAF Fairford will become the venue for an attempt on the outright British Land Speed Record as well as that for an electric car.

Primetime Land Speed Engineering, which already holds the British Land Speed Record, will pit its pair of afterburning jet cars Vampire and Split Second against each other in an attempt to better the existing record – set by Vampire in 2000 – of 300.3mph. At the same time, the team will make an attempt on the British Land Speed Record for an electric car (139mph), using their battery-powered e=motion car.

Driving Vampire will be grandfather-of-two Colin Fallows, 55, from Northampton, who is the current UK speed record holder. Colin is a former RAF technician and is one of Europe's most experienced drag racers. At the controls of Split Second will be trained pilot Mark Newby, from Oxford, who will also drive e=motion.

The record attempts, eight days before the start of the Air Tattoo (July 15-16), are being staged to highlight the airshow's theme Rapid Global Effect. This is the ability of international air arms to react quickly and effectively to a range of humanitarian, peace-keeping and military operations around the world.

Air Tattoo Director Tim Prince said that new technology has not only enabled the military to reach around the globe faster than ever before but also with greater effect. He said: “Innovation is at the heart of most technological advances which is why we were delighted to be in a position to help give Primetime this record-breaking opportunity. We are confident the cars will be successful in setting new British land speed records and then we will look forward to staging an exciting display of the cars for the public during the Air Tattoo itself.”