Prodrive is celebrating alongside JCB, Ricardo and the whole JCB Hydromax team after the hydrogen-powered streamliner established a new FIA World Land Speed Record with an official average speed of 406.320 mph.
Driven by Wing Commander Andy Green OBE, JCB Hydromax completed the record attempt on the Bonneville Salt Flats, setting a new world benchmark for a hydrogen combustion-powered vehicle. The achievement represents the culmination of an intensive development programme that combined JCB’s hydrogen combustion technology with engineering and operational expertise from across the project team.
Following its appointment to the programme this time last year, Prodrive has played a key role, being responsible for vehicle integration and trackside operations, helping prepare both car and crew for the unique challenges of a world land speed record campaign. Working alongside JCB and Ricardo, the company supported the development, testing and execution of the record attempt, drawing on decades of experience operating at the highest levels of international motorsport.
The record follows a rapid progression for the programme. After exceeding 200 mph during testing in the UK, JCB Hydromax went on to establish a 368.347 mph Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) class record during Bonneville Speed Week before successfully completing its FIA World Land Speed Record challenge.
Setting a world land speed record demands far more than outright speed. Under FIA regulations, teams must complete two runs in opposite directions within a one hour window, placing immense pressure on vehicle preparation and operational execution, particularly during the turn-around period. During the record attempt, the JCB Hydromax team turnaround process was clocked at just 47:52 minutes. Prodrive’s role in developing and delivering those trackside procedures formed a critical part of the programme’s success.
David Richards, Chairman of Prodrive and Motorsport UK, said:
“World records are built on thousands of details, executed flawlessly, but they are delivered by people. What stood out throughout this programme was the way engineers, technicians, drivers and support crews from different organisations came together as one team to overcome every challenge put in front of them.
We are proud to have partnered with JCB, Ricardo and the entire JCB Hydromax team in achieving this remarkable milestone, helping to demonstrate not only what is possible when talented people collaborate, but also the exciting potential of hydrogen combustion technology.”
Simon Dowson, Prodrive’s Director of Special Projects and JCB Hydromax Race Team Principal, said:
“This record is the result of an enormous amount of hard work by an exceptional team. Every organisation involved has contributed its own expertise, and together we have achieved something genuinely significant.
To progress from an idea to a new FIA World Record in such a short period of time is a remarkable accomplishment and one that everyone involved should be incredibly proud of.”
Twenty years after JCB’s Dieselmax programme rewrote the record books at Bonneville, JCB Hydromax has established a new benchmark for hydrogen combustion performance by breaking the 400mph barrier. As well as demonstrating engineering excellence and operational execution at the highest level, the achievement highlights the potential of hydrogen combustion technology in one of the world’s most demanding performance environments.
