22 Aug 06 17:08
JCB Dieselmax
They've done it! Andy Green drove the JCB Dieselmax to a new world land speed record for diesel-powered cars at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah on Tuesday.
The yellow streamliner recorded a two-way average of 328.767mph, with a run of 324mph in one direction and 333mph in the other. Subject to official confirmation, that gives the British team the record, which had stood at 236mph since 1973.
Wing Commander Green said: 'It's British engineering at its absolute best.'
And to JCB boss Sir Anthony Bamford, who watched from his private jet as it circled above the salt flats, Green said: 'Thank you for having the courage to undertake the project.'
Green said he could have gone faster on the second run, but backed off when he hit 330mph. He claimed that, bizarrely, he 'forgot' he was on a record run. The weather was perfect, and the car had no mechanical problems, although Green needed to make a couple of minor steering corrections.
Richard Noble, the man behind the jet-powered Thrust land speed record car, said: 'There will be a hell of a party tonight. Nobody in Wendover is safe.'
Better hope the hangovers aren't too big, as the JCB team hopes to take the record even higher with further runs this week.
Feature: Countdown to glory
Blog: Behind the scenes with the JCB team
Video: The World's Fastest Diesel
