JCB Fastrac 2 hits 150mph | Time For Tea?

A 1,000hp, record-breaking tractor wasn't enough for JCB - now it's back, and going even faster...

2019 has clearly been the year that the automotive world felt the need for speed like no other; Bugatti has gone 300mph, Hennessey wants to go quicker still and Bloodhound LSR is getting faster by the day. Clearly not willing to be left out of the action, JCB has further tweaked its record-breaking Fastrac tractor - say hello to the 150mph Fastrac Two.

Based on JCB chairman Lord Bamford's conviction that a tractor could go even faster than 103mph, Fastrac Two is a very thorough evolution of the original record-breaker. While distinctly different again, Fastrac Two still shares more than 50 per cent of its parts with the standard Fastrac JCB sells to its customers.

The most obvious port of call for more speed is the engine; now with an electrically driven supercharger, bigger turbo (with a 230% increase in boost pressure), a 2500 bar(!) fuel pump and even an increased engine speed of 3,300rpm, Fastrac Two's 7.2-litre straight six diesel is even more potent than it was in the 1,016hp, 1,844lb ft original. JCB isn't saying by exactly how much, only that it's "more than" both those figures. Which seems like a pretty good start...

Fastrac was aerodynamically optimised, too, JCB recruiting Rob Smedley of Williams fame to reduce drag by 10 per cent. That was achieved through CFD analysis and then bodywork changes, including splitters, diffusers and deflectors, as well as mounting the cab lower.

Once again Guy Martin and Elvington Airfield were used for the 'World's fastest tractor (modified)' record, with a peak speed of 153.771mph. The two-way average, ratified by Guinness World Records, was for 135.191mph, more than 30mph faster than before. Martin said of its drive: I was a very small cog in the machine. But to be that small cog was a massive honour, so thank you very much to JCB and its engineering team, who got this tractor absolutely spot-on."

It makes for quite the onboard, too, the comedic value from having to use a Focus RS to keep up with a tractor surely not lost on anybody involved. Given the potential displayed in this run, surely a 150mph average must be the aim for next time...