AN airfield in the region is to play a key role in an attempt to set a new world speed record - with a steam-powered car.

The British steam car team will warm up at Elvington Airfield, near York, in July, before making its world record bid at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, in the US, in August.

The team's visit to Elvington will coincide with the 70th anniversary of the last time a British steam-powered vehicle set a world record, when the Mallard steam locomotive reached 126mph.

It is also 40 years since the end of mainline steam on British railways - an anniversary being celebrated by the National Railway Museum, in York, this month.

A spokeswoman for the steam car team said: "This is by no means a lavishly- funded project, and most of the work developing and building the car has been undertaken in a modest workshop.

"The last official steam-powered record attempt took place in 1906, with Fred Marriott driving a steamer built by the Stanley brothers. It achieved 127.659mph."

Project manager Frank Swanson instigated much of the engineering groundwork for the project.

Since Mr Swanson's death last year, the team regrouped and was boosted by the recruitment of Don Wales as test driver.

Mr Wales is the nephew of the late Donald Campbell and grandson of Sir Malcolm Campbell - who between them established more than 20 land and water speed records.

Mr Wales set an electric vehicle land speed record at Elvington in 1997.

He said: "Elvington is scheduled to be the last warm-up event before the world record attempt.

"If all goes to plan, the car will be packed up and shipped to the US after that. It will be fun to be back at Elvington, but it's going to be hard work."

The world record attempt has support from Squadron Leader Andy Green, holder of the first - and only - supersonic world land speed record of 763.035mph, set in 1997.

At Bonneville, the British Steam Car will be housed in the same hangar used by the Campbells for their record attempts.

When the vehicle returns to the UK, it will retire to the National Motor Museum, in Hampshire.

For more information about the steam car team's record attempt, visit steamcar.

co.uk