JCB is vying to set a land speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah with a 32-foot car powered by a hydrogen-fuelled internal combustion engine.
Called the Hydromax, the challenger follows five years of hydrogen engine development undertaken as part of a £100m investment by the British plant and machinery manufacturer – technology already powering JCB diggers in production.
The attempt comes 20 years after the JCB Dieselmax claimed the diesel land speed record of 350.092mph at Bonneville in 2006, and wing commander Andy Green – the only man in history to break the sound barrier on land, and the current outright land speed record holder – will return to the cockpit to pursue the hydrogen equivalent in August.
‘Twenty years ago, JCB took two of its diesel engines, sprinkled some magic engineering dust on them and put them into a racing car,’ Green said. ‘We raced the Dieselmax up to an astonishing speed – and a new FIA world record – of over 350mph. Today, that car is still the fastest diesel-engined vehicle in history.’
JCB says the Hydromax is both lighter and more powerful than its predecessor, running on two production-based hydrogen engines producing 1600bhp combined.
‘Britain has a proud heritage of setting speed records and, as a British company, I’m excited to challenge for a new one using hydrogen,’ said JCB chairman Anthony Bamford, who led the hydrogen programme. ‘This is not just about speed – it’s about showcasing the world-class engineering talent we have here in the UK and the robustness of our hydrogen engines.’
The Hydromax will run during Bonneville SpeedWeek, where times will be recorded by the Southern California Timing Association, before JCB’s team remains at the Salt Flats to officially pursue the FIA-governed record.
Andy Green is set to appear at the Concours des Légendes at Wilton House on 19-21 June 2026, where he will discuss the Dieselmax record runs as well as the upcoming Hydromax attempt. Tickets are available to purchase here.
