JCB’s hydrogen-powered Hydromax streamliner has set a new SCTA class record at the Bonneville Salt Flats, reaching an average speed of 368.347mph. Driven by Wing Commander Andy Green OBE, the 32-foot-long car broke the Southern California Timing Association’s Blown Gas Streamliner (AA/BGS, 500+ cubic inches) record during Bonneville Speed Week.
The result comes just days before JCB plans to attempt an official FIA world record at the same place.
368.347mph
Setting an SCTA record at Bonneville requires two runs on consecutive days, with the final result calculated from the average of the maximum speeds recorded. On 6th August 2026, the twin-engined Hydromax reached 367.141mph. The next day, it recorded a maximum of 369.554mph, producing an average of 368.347mph.
That was enough to beat the previous class record of 348.342mph, set by the Spectre Streamliner in 2010. It is the first time the record has been broken in 16 years.
“To reach 368.347mph is a fantastic achievement for the whole JCB Hydromax team. It shows just what JCB’s hydrogen engines are capable of ahead of our outright FIA world record attempt. This project is about proving that hydrogen power can perform at the very highest level with zero emissions, and today’s result is powerful evidence of that.”
JCB Chairman Lord Bamford
Andy Green Back at Bonneville
Hydromax is being driven by Andy Green, who remains the fastest man on earth after setting the outright land speed record of 763.035mph. He is also the only person to have broken the sound barrier on land.
“It has been an absolute joy to be back on the salt, racing at Speed Week alongside some incredible teams. The Bonneville Salt Flats are the home of the World Land Speed Record, where racers get to push the boundaries of physics and innovation. This record has given all of us huge confidence in the car, the team and the quality of the engineering. With our first record in the bag, we’re now turning up the power on the engines, aiming to go even faster next week.”
Andy Green, the fastest man on earth
1,600hp From Hydrogen
The JCB Hydromax uses two of JCB’s own production-based hydrogen internal combustion engines. Following the SCTA record, the engines are now being turned up towards their full combined output of 1,600hp ahead of the FIA attempt. The team has completed 44 runs so far as part of a carefully managed testing programme, gradually increasing speed while collecting data and developing the car.
With the SCTA record secured, the team will remain at Bonneville and turn its attention to officially recognised world records governed by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile.
JCB and Speed Records
This isn’t JCB’s first trip to Bonneville. In 2006, its Dieselmax streamliner set the world diesel land speed record at 350.092mph, powered by two JCB diesel engines. The company followed that with the JCB GT, which became the world’s fastest backhoe loader at 72.58mph in 2014. In 2019, the JCB Fastrac claimed the title of world’s fastest tractor at 135.191mph.
The latest attempt also comes ahead of the opening of JCB’s new factory in San Antonio, Texas. The $500 million facility covers one million square feet across a 400-acre site and is expected to employ 1,500 people manufacturing machines for the US market.
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