Volvo Trucks’ The Iron Knight, driven by Boije Ovebrink, now holds the official speed records for the 500- and-1000 metre distances.
The Iron Knight beat the international speed record for 1000 metres from a standing start with an average speed of 169 km/h and a time of 21.29 seconds.
It also beat the corresponding record for the 500-metre distance, at 131.29 km/h and 13.71 seconds.
A modified Volvo D13 turbo diesel engine with 2400 horsepower and 6000 Newton metres of torque was mounted in the middle of the record-breaking Iron Knights chassis for better weight distribution.
A standard production I-Shift Volvo dual clutch transmission with reinforced discs and pressure plates fed that power to the rear wheels.
“This shows that our I-Shift Dual Clutch transmission has enormous potential and that it does not let you down under extreme conditions,” says Volvo Trucks ceo and president Claes Nilsson.
The fact that the world record-breaker uses the very same gearbox found in our series-built FH trucks is something that we’re proud of,” he says.
The record run was carried out at a closed-off test track in northern Sweden. The international motorsports association, FIA, are reviewing the records.
Specialists from several different Volvo Trucks departments worked closely together to develop the record-breaking vehicle.
“Apart from the powertrain, which is the heart and soul of The Iron Knight, we’ve hand-built the truck from the ground up. The fact that we succeeded in securing not just one record but two is amazing,” says Volvo Trucks technician Olof Johansson.
Driver Boije Ovebrink has more than 30 years’ experience of both car and truck racing. He has previously beaten five-speed records and in 1994 was European Truck Racing Champion.
“The Iron Knight can be summarised in one single word: perfection. It’s beautiful to look at and is a powerhouse when you floor the accelerator,” says Ovebrink.
“This is the third record-breaking truck I’ve driven, and I can’t think of a better follow-up to Wild Viking and Mean Green,” says Ovebrink.
