By seeking the title of "World's Fastest Diesel," JCB aims to prove the strength, performance and versatility of the JCB444 diesel engine. The JCB DIESELMAX car is twice as powerful and twice as fast as a Formula 1 car.
JCB will challenge for the FIA Group III, Class 10 supercharged diesel streamliner record, currently held by Virgil W. Snyder, who set the record of 235.756 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats on August 25, 1973.
The DIESELMAX car will be driven by RAF pilot Andy Green, who set the first-ever supersonic world land speed record at 763.035 mph in ThrustSSC in the Black Rock Desert on October 15, 1997.
"It has always been our company tradition that the way to make progress is to push forward with a sense of urgency and to seek new challenges," said Sir Anthony Bamford, chairman, JCB. "The search for the next innovative step is the cornerstone of our business along with a strong sense of adventure."
At the heart of the world record attempt is the JCB444. Developed and manufactured by JCB specifically to run construction equipment for off-highway use, the engine was introduced after five years of development and a cost of $140 million.
"We began this project with one basic aim," said Dr. Tim Leverton, JCB group engineering director. "Our intention is to prove the quality and performance of the JCB444 engine on the world stage. The knowledge we gain as a result of meeting this extreme engineering challenge will be applied to future iterations of the engine directly benefiting our customers."
JCB DIESELMAX is more than 29 feet long, weighs nearly three tons and is powered by two 750 bhp two-stage turbocharged JCB444 diesel engines driving through separate six-speed transmissions.
Initial vehicle testing will be conducted by Green at the Wittering Royal Air Force station, near Peterborough, England, prior to the first salt testing at Bonneville during Speed Week, which runs August 12-18, 2006. The team will make its first attempt to set a new record the following week.
