The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile has confirmed a new provisional World Land Speed Record for a hydrogen internal combustion-powered vehicle after the JCB Hydromax reached 406.320 mph, or 653.909 kph, at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, the United States.
The record, set over a flying mile and kilometre, remains subject to ratification by the FIA Land Speed Records Commission. FIA officials oversaw the attempt alongside the Automobile Competition Committee of the United States, the FIA’s National Sporting Authority in the country, and local experts at Bonneville.
Driven by Wing Commander Andy Green OBE, the JCB Hydromax completed two runs, one in each direction, over a one-mile distance. Under FIA regulations, the average speed of the two runs determined the record. The achievement surpassed the previous FIA-recognised hydrogen internal combustion benchmark of 185.5 mph, or 298.5 kph, set by the BMW H2R in 2004.
FIA officials supervised sporting and technical procedures, including vehicle scrutineering, safety inspections, timing verification and the independent recording of the performance. The FIA said it had collaborated with JCB’s engineering team since the beginning of the project, sharing safety and technical knowledge gained from its work on gaseous hydrogen technologies, which began in 2021.
The record also marked JCB’s return to Bonneville 20 years after its Dieselmax, also driven by Green, set the FIA world diesel land speed record of 350.092 mph in August 2006.
Green, who also holds the outright FIA World Land Speed Record of 763.035 mph, or 1,227.986 kph, set with ThrustSSC in 1997, has now become the fastest person propelled by hydrogen. The FIA said the Hydromax was not built to challenge the jet-propelled outright record, but described the achievement as an important milestone for hydrogen technology in motor sport.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem called the record “a truly historic milestone for motorsport,” saying it demonstrated how innovation, performance, speed and sustainability can progress together. He also thanked ACCUS for its support and congratulated Lord Bamford, Andy Green OBE and all those involved.
Daniel Coen, FIA Vice President for Sport, North America, said Bonneville remained one of motor sport’s most iconic locations and that the achievement reflected strong collaboration between the FIA, ACCUS and the wider team.
ACCUS President Kevin Miller said the attempt depended on the expertise and commitment of officials, timekeepers, marshals and volunteers working together to uphold sporting and safety standards.
Roger Banowetz, President of the FIA Land Speed Commission, said the week at Bonneville had been “incredible” and described the record as the result of close cooperation between the FIA, ACCUS and JCB.
JCB Chairman Lord Bamford said the record showed that hydrogen-powered engines work “today at the highest level with zero emissions,” noting that the Hydromax used production-based engines of the same type currently powering JCB diggers.
Green said Bonneville was the “spiritual home” of the World Land Speed Record and described the Hydromax as “magnificent, stable, strong and fast.”
