JCB Hydromax hits 208mph as UK testing concludes

JCB has successfully completed UK testing of its hydrogen-powered JCB Hydromax car – reaching 208mph and clearing the way for its world land speed record attempt at Bonneville next month.

The shakedown runs at RAF Wittering in Cambridgeshire, England saw the 32-foot car driven by Wing Commander Andy Green OBE reach 208mph under its own hydrogen power – up from the 177mph recorded earlier in the programme. The testing finished yesterday.

Next Stop, Bonneville: The Utah Record Attempt

Just as valuable as the speed is what the team has gained: vital data, hard-won engineering insight and the teamwork and communication that can only be built on the track. The crew also refined JCB Hydromax’s hydrogen refuelling process – a key element in ensuring fast, efficient operation on the Bonneville Salt Flats, where turnaround times can decide whether a record run goes ahead. All of it will prove invaluable in Utah in August.

JCB Engineering Director Ryan Ballard, who is leading the project, said: “Reaching 208mph is a tremendous result, but the real value of these tests is what we have learned. We now understand how the car behaves under load, we have refined our hydrogen refuelling, and we have built the teamwork and communication that will be decisive at Bonneville. Every refuel, run and tyre change we have rehearsed here is one we won’t be doing for the first time on the salt. We will arrive fully prepared, with a car and a crew that know exactly what they are doing.”

Andy Green said: “To run JCB Hydromax up to 208mph here in the UK is hugely encouraging. The car feels strong and the team has gelled brilliantly. Now comes the real challenge – Bonneville, the spiritual home of the World Land Speed Record. I can’t wait to get out on the salt.”

JCB Hydrogen Engines

Unveiled at JCB’s World HQ in Staffordshire on May 12th, the car is powered by two of JCB’s own production-based hydrogen digger engines producing a combined 1,600 bhp. Just six weeks on, with UK testing complete, it will now be prepared for the journey to the United States.

At Bonneville in 2006, Andy Green – the fastest man on earth at 763.035 mph and the only person to break the sound barrier on land – drove the JCB Dieselmax car to its Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) diesel world land speed record of 350.092 mph, powered by two JCB engines.

In Utah, the team will compete at SpeedWeek, run by the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA), before pursuing an officially recognised record under the FIA.