The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, has today confirmed a new provisional World Land Speed Record for a hydrogen internal combustion-powered vehicle, as the JCB Hydromax recorded a speed of 406.320 miles per hour / 653.909 kilometres per hour on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA. The record is set over a flying mile / kilometre subject to the ratification by the FIA Land Speed Records Commission.  

The FIA has an incredible history officiating World Land Speed Records that spans over 100 years. FIA World Land Speed Records are the only globally-recognised, verified and documented achievements of what is perhaps the purest pursuit of outright speed in all motor sport. Records stretching back to the 1920s are held in the FIA Archives in Valleiry, France.  

The JCB Hydromax was driven to this latest record-breaking velocity by Wing Commander Andy Green OBE. FIA regulation required he make two runs – one in each direction – over a distance of one mile, with the average speed across the two runs setting the record. Today’s achievement eclipses the previous FIA-recognised hydrogen internal combustion benchmark of 185.5 mph / 298.5 kph set in 2004 by the BMW H2R.  

FIA officials worked alongside its Member Club, the Automobile Competition Committee of the US (ACCUS), and the local team of experts at Bonneville to oversee the sporting and technical procedures required for an FIA World Land Speed Record attempt, including vehicle scrutineering, safety inspections, timing verification and the independent recording of the performance.  

The FIA has collaborated with JCB’s engineering team since the start of the project, sharing the learnings made by the FIA Technical and Safety Department during its initial exploration of gaseous hydrogen technologies that began back in 2021. While the federation has since switched its technical focus onto the development of liquid hydrogen storage for motor sport, the safety parameters and data collected by the Technical and Safety Department remain relevant for categories deploying gaseous H2, including the FIA Extreme H World Cup.  

The record also marks JCB’s return to Bonneville 20 years after the company’s Dieselmax, also driven by Green, established the FIA world diesel land speed record of 350.092 mph in August 2006.  

As well as now being the fastest person propelled by hydrogen, Green also holds the remarkable accolade of ‘fastest person on earth’, having set the outright FIA World Land Speed Record of 763.035 mph / 1227.986 kph with ThrustSSC in 1997. While the JCB Hydromax was not built to rival the jet-propelled outright record, it has laid down an important marker in the world of motor sport and beyond – hydrogen technology is now at the cutting edge of competition.  

President of the FIA, H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, said: “This is a truly historic milestone for motorsport showcasing how innovation, performance, speed, and sustainability can go hand in hand. 

"Motorsport has always been a catalyst for technological progress pushing the boundaries of what is possible. This new land speed record continues this tradition, showcasing the potential of hydrogen combustion for the future of sustainable mobility.  

"For over 100 years, the FIA has proudly played a central role officiating land speed record attempts. I would like to thank our Member Club, the Automobile Competition Committee for the United States, for their support during this record attempt and offer my congratulations to Lord Bamford, Andy Green OBE, and to everyone involved in this remarkable achievement.” 

Daniel Coen, FIA Vice President for Sport, North America, said: “Bonneville is one of the most iconic locations in motor sport, and it is fitting to see another chapter of Land Speed Record history written here in the United States. 

“This achievement reflects the strength of collaboration between the FIA, ACCUS and everyone involved, while demonstrating how motor sport continues to push the boundaries of technology and innovation.” 

President of the Automobile Competition Committee for the United States, Kevin Miller, said: “Bonneville has an extraordinary place in the history of land speed records. As the FIA’s National Sporting Authority in the United States, ACCUS was proud to support the FIA and the team throughout this record attempt. 

“Attempts like this depend on the expertise and commitment of officials, timekeepers, marshals and volunteers working together to ensure the highest sporting and safety standards. It has been a privilege for ACCUS to play its part in helping another chapter of land speed record history be written here in the United States.” 

FIA Land Speed Commission President, Roger Banowetz, said: “It has been an incredible week here on the salt at Bonneville, and my sincere congratulations go to Andy Green OBE, Lord Bamford, and everyone who has been a part of this fantastic project with JCB.  

“It has been a truly collaborative effort between the FIA, ACCUS and JCB to bring all the necessary elements together, and all of those involved should be extremely proud.  

“Hydrogen power will surely be an important part of our sustainable future, and as with previous technologies, FIA Land Speed Records are an insatiable target for those wanting to push the boundaries of innovation.” 

Lord Bamford, JCB Chairman, said: “Twenty years ago we came to Bonneville with JCB Dieselmax and showed what British engineering could do with diesel power. Today we have done it again — this time with engines powered by hydrogen. This record was set by production-based engines, the same engines powering JCB diggers right now. That is the point of JCB Hydromax: it shows hydrogen works, and it works today at the highest level with zero emissions.” 

Wing Commander Andy Green OBE said: “Bonneville is the spiritual home of the World Land Speed Record, and Hydromax has just written itself into that history. The car was magnificent, stable, strong and fast. To set a world record with hydrogen, twenty years after Dieselmax, is a privilege.” 

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For media enquiries, contact: 
Tom Wood, FIA Head of Sport Communications - twood@fia.com
Sven Good, FIA Road Sport Communications Manager - sgood@fia.com 

About the FIA

The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) is the governing body for world motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations globally. It is a non-profit organisation committed to driving innovation and championing safety, sustainability and equality across motor sport and mobility.

Founded in 1904, with offices in Paris, London and Geneva, the FIA brings together 246 Member Organisations across five continents, representing millions of road users, motor sport professionals and volunteers. It develops and enforces regulations for motor sport, including six FIA World Championships, to ensure worldwide competitions are safe and fair for all.

About FIA World Land Speed Records

FIA World Land Speed Records are motor sport distilled to its two most basic elements – distance versus time – to create the fastest recognised official speeds achieved by any wheeled vehicle on land. The Outright Land Speed Record, which currently stands at 763.035 mph (1227.985 km/h), is the most prestigious, but there are hundreds of other records in myriad classes based on factors such as engine type and capacity, weight or body shape. Record Attempts may be attempted on straightline playa, salt or tarmac courses, where they are averaged over two runs in opposing directions, or over distance or time endurance runs on closed racetracks.

There are many different types of World Records which are divided into four main categories (A, B, C & D) and then several Group & Class sub-divisions within those categories.
Definitions of these Categories, Groups, and Classes can be found in Appendix D of the International Sporting Code.

The current holder of the Outright World Land Speed Record is ThrustSSC driven by Andy Green, a twin turbofan jet-powered car which achieved 763.035 mph - 1227.985 km/h - over one mile in October 1997. This is the first supersonic record as it exceeded the sound barrier at Mach 1.016.

Other famous holders of the Outright World Land Speed Record include:

• Thrust II driven by Richard Noble – achieved a best speed of 633.468mph / 1019.47km/h in 1983
• The Blue Flame driven by Gary Gabelich – first to exceed 1000 km/h - 630.388 mph / 1014.496 km/h in 1970
• Spirit of America driven by Craig Breedlove – achieved a best speed of 600.601mph / 966.574km/h in 1965
• Blue Bird driven by Malcolm Campbell – achieved a best speed of 301.129mph / 484.620km/h in 1935
• Golden Arrow driven by Henry Segrave – achieved a best speed of 231.36mph / 327.34km/h in 1929

Records up to 1935 were predominately set on beaches before the Bonneville Salt Flats in the USA became the preferred venue for attempts and was home of nearly all Outright World Land Speed Records set between 1935 and 1970. The current Outright World Land Speed Record was set at Black Rock Desert, USA.

About hydrogen technology in FIA Land Speed Records 

In February 2024, the FIA World Motor Sport Council approved the FIA’s development of  technology  solutions based on hydrogen stored in liquid form (LH2). 

Solutions using compressed gas storage type are considered as interim solution, provided minimum safety and technical requirements are met. 

This decision was taken because the characteristics of the liquid storage tank are more optimised, making it better suited to the demanding environment of motor sport competitions. 

In the unique discipline of Land Speed Records, the use of hydrogen as an energy source is considered to be ideal. Its storage in either liquid or gaseous form is considered legitimate, given the specific environment of Land Speed Record attempts. The decision of the World Motor Sport Council to only allow liquid hydrogen for competition was therefore waived, and the use of hydrogen stored in either liquid during FIA World Land Speed Record Attempts is authorised. 
 
About JCB

JCB, the world’s third largest construction equipment brand by volume, has 22 plants on four continents: 11 in the UK and others in India, Brazil, the USA and China. JCB is a family company, which was founded on October 23rd, 1945, by the late Joseph Cyril Bamford CBE. His son Anthony, now Lord Bamford, has been Chairman since 1975. JCB has just celebrated its 80th birthday.

In 2021, JCB unveiled its first ever prototype products powered by hydrogen: a backhoe loader and a Loadall telescopic handler. JCB’s purpose-engineered zero CO² hydrogen engine was designed after a challenge to the company’s engineers from Lord Bamford. As part of a £100 million investment, a team of 150 engineers has been working on the exciting hydrogen engine project and more than 200 JCB hydrogen combustion engines have so far been produced, with the first machines now in production.

For further information contact: Nigel Chell JCB Press Office Tel: 01889 593592

E-mail: nigel.chell@jcb.com