JCB’s Fastrac Two has stormed into the record books after being crowned the world’s fastest tractor with a speed of 135.191 mph.
Designed and built by a team of young engineers in Staffordshire, UK, Fastrac Two secured the title at Elvington Airfield in York with former motorbike racer Guy Martin at the wheel.
The record-breaking attempt was overseen by Guinness World Records, who confirmed that the JCB Fastrac completed two runs, in either direction through a speed trap set 1km apart, within the allotted time, to set the 135.191mph record.
JCB set its first Guinness World Record for the fastest tractor at Elvington in June.
Called Fastrac One, it reached a speed of 103.6 mph with Martin in the driver’s seat.
The company decided to break its own record and developed Fastrac Two – which 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.
It was an “amazing achievement” according to JCB board chair Lord Bamford.
“When we reached 103.6mph with the Fastrac, I was convinced we could go even faster, and the JCB team has risen to the challenge by setting this new record.
Everyone involved should be very proud of the part they have played in showing off British engineering at its very best,” he says.
Fastrac Two would be 10% lighter than its predecessor, reducing its weight to less than five tonnes.
The tractor’s bonnet was changed from steel to aluminium; non-structural material was removed from the chassis, while the cab and roll cage mounts would be incorporated into the chassis design.
“The biggest challenges have included aerodynamics, reducing weight and improving performance – getting a five-tonne tractor to safely reach 150mph, and stop again, is not an easy task, but we’re all so proud to have not only reached these goals, but to have exceeded them,” says JCB chief innovation and growth officer Tim Burnhope.
Streamlined bodywork also had a role to play, with aerodynamic analysis and development giving Fastrac Two a 10% reduction in drag over Fastrac One.
This saw the development of new cab air deflectors, a new rear cover, re-designed radiator covers, new side panels, front bumper and cab roof, would also help the tractor to cut through the air.
The 7.2 litre, 6-cylinder JCB Dieselmax engine also received some attention.
A new, larger turbocharger was accompanied by water injection and charge-air cooling through ice tanks, reduced intake temperatures by 50˚C.
An electrically driven supercharger system was used, while a revised exhaust manifold contributed to improved flow.
The adoption of an anti-lag system would also keep the larger turbocharger delivering its maximum boost pressure while gear changes took place.
The result was a peak output of 1,016hp at 3,150rpm, and more than 2,500Nm of torque.
Despite the tractor developing 1,016hp, it achieved over 5mpg and needed only a tiny 20-litre fuel tank to make its high-speed runs.
And while it has the capability to run on vegetable oil, a special formulation of high-performance racing diesel was used.
Fastrac Two’s driveline was also updated to cope.
A multi-plate wet clutch was developed to improve torque management and create smoother gear changes for the six-speed manual transmission.
An air-shifter reduces effort for the short-throw gear-lever, encouraging speedy shifts between ratios to encourage the Fastrac up to those record-breaking speeds.
The tractor’s final drive capabilities were also improved.
