JCB Fastrac crowned fastest tractor in the world

JCB’s Fastrac from UK based company has stormed into the record books after being crowned the world’s fastest tractor with a speed of 135.191 mph. The Fastrac - designed and built by a team of young engineers in Staffordshire - secured the title at Elvington Airfield in York with motorbike racer and lorry mechanic Guy Martin at the wheel.

The feat was officially ratified by Guinness World Records who presented the company with a special framed certificate minutes after the achievement.JCB had set its first Guinness World Record for the fastest tractor at Elvington in June with its Fastrac One that reached a speed of 103.6 mph with Guy Martin in the driver’s seat.

Fastrac Two  was 10% lighter and was even more streamlined than its smaller brother.  Fastrac Two hit a peak speed of 153.771mph on its way to recording an average of 135.191mph at Elvington.

JCB Chairman Lord Bamford said: “When we reached 103.6mph with the Fastrac in the summer, I was convinced we could go even faster, and the JCB team has risen to the challenge by setting this new record. It’s an amazing achievement delivered by a young and enthusiastic engineering team. Everyone involved should be very proud of the part they have played in showing off British engineering at its very best.”

It was Lord Bamford’s idea to develop a tractor which had a high road speed capable of field work, and the World speed record now achieved came 28 years since the first production model rolled off the line.  JCB is no stranger to land speed records. In 2006, its Dieselmax streamliner set a new diesel land speed record when it reached 350.092mph on Bonneville Salt Flats in the USA, using two JCB Dieselmax engines. It’s a record that still stands to this day.