Looks like it wasn't ThrustSSC, but rather "a Vampire rocket car powered by a Rolls Royce Orpheus Jet Engine".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Hammond

I too hope he'll pull through. Hammond, Clarkson and May made TV motoring entertaining again (despite some of their sillier features).
_________________________
Remind me to change my signature to something more interesting someday