JCB Fastrac Two: this is the fastest tractor in the world

The JCB Fastrac Two is a true beast built to be the fastest tractor in the world, a creation that would make us think about dedicating our lives to farming

When we think of a tractor, the rundown John Deere that still works the vegetable plots in our grandparents’ village comes to mind. Yet it never occurs to us to pair it with the word sports car.

There is always some madman ready to surprise us, and who better than someone who has risked his life several times at more than 300 km/h on the Isle of Man on a motorcycle. This madman is called Guy Martin and he has modified a tractor to turn it into the fastest in the world.

Mission accomplished: the JCB Fastrac Two is the fastest tractor in the world

This test was carried out at Elvington airfield and achieved the desired success: this beast is called the JCB Fastrac Two and it became the fastest tractor in the world with a top speed of 247.47 km/h.

This is a collaboration between the JCB specialist and the British driver who has already made several attempts. The first came in June 2019, and although the world record was achieved with a speed of 166.7 km/h, neither party was satisfied, since surpassing 200 km/h had become an obsession.

To get the JCB Fastrac Two to reach a top speed of 247.7 km/h, the company has modified this machine so that its only link to the production model is its unmistakable yellow colour.

Although its ground clearance has been noticeably reduced, aerodynamics still isn’t a tractor’s strong point, and the cab’s glass remains an impenetrable wall for the airflow.

How do you beat the wind? The answer is clear: power

To beat the wind, you need power. For this reason, JCB has fitted an enormous 7.2-litre turbo diesel engine capable of producing no less than 1,016 CV with an incredible torque of 2,500 Nm at 3,150 rpm. If this tractor were used for work in the fields, it would pull up the deepest roots in the vegetable plot just by brushing the throttle, and if we went too far, it could bring down the village bell tower.

The engine block is the same as the one fitted to the production model. However, this has been modified with a huge turbocharger which in turn is fed by an electric supercharger that keeps it spinning at low revs. In addition, the exhaust system has also been completely modified to improve combustion flow. Undoubtedly, this is not an environmentally friendly set-up, and it is far removed from creations such as the Nikola TRE, Iveco’s first electric truck.

Furthermore, the JCB Fastrac Two features a six-speed manual gearbox signed by ZF§h30†, a rara avis when it comes to handling more than 1,000 CV. With tractors like this, one is tempted to return to the countryside and live the rural life, so we leave you a video of this wild creation so that you too can consider it.