FIA World Land Speed Recordsare motor sport distilled to its two most basic elements –distance versus time– to create the fastest recognised official speeds achieved by any wheeled vehicle on land.
The Outright Land Speed Record, which currently stands at 763.035 mph (1227.985 km/h), is the most prestigious, but there arehundreds of other recordsin myriad classesbased on factors such as engine type and capacity, weight or body shape. Record Attempts may be attempted on straightline playa, salt or tarmac courses, where they are averaged overtwo runs in opposing directions, or over distance or time endurance runs on closed racetracks.
There are many different types of World Records which are divided intofour main categories (A, B, C & D)and then several Group & Class sub-divisions within those categories.
Definitions of these Categories, Groups, and Classes can be found in Appendix D of the International Sporting Code.
The current holder of the Outright World Land Speed Record isThrustSSC driven by Andy Green, a twin turbofan jet-powered car which achieved 763.035 mph – 1227.985 km/h – over one mile in October 1997. This is the first supersonic record as it exceeded the sound barrier at Mach 1.016.
Other famous holders of the Outright World Land Speed Record include:
- Thrust II driven by Richard Noble– achieved a best speed of633.468mph / 1019.47km/h in 1983
- The Blue Flame driven by Gary Gabelich– first to exceed 1000 km/h –630.388 mph / 1014.496 km/h in 1970
- Spirit of America driven by Craig Breedlove– achieved a best speed of600.601mph / 966.574km/h in 1965
- Blue Bird driven by Malcolm Campbell– achieved abest speed of 301.129mph / 484.620km/h in 1935
- Golden Arrow driven by Henry Segrave– achieved a best speed of231.36mph / 327.34km/h in 1929
Records up to 1935 were predominately set on beaches before the Bonneville Salt Flats in the USA became the preferred venue for attempts and was home of nearly all Outright World Land Speed Records set between 1935 and 1970.The current Outright World Land Speed Record was set at Black Rock Desert, USA.
About hydrogen technology in FIA Land Speed Records
In February 2024, the FIA World Motor Sport Council approved the FIA’s development of technology solutions based on hydrogen stored in liquid form (LH2).
Solutions usingcompressed gas storage typeare considered as interim solution, provided minimum safety and technical requirements are met.
This decision was taken becausethe characteristics of the liquid storage tank are more optimised,making it better suited to the demanding environment of motor sport competitions.
In the unique discipline of Land Speed Records, the use of hydrogen as an energy source is considered to be ideal.Its storage in either liquid or gaseous form is considered legitimate, given the specific environment of Land Speed Record attempts. The decision of the World Motor Sport Councilto only allow liquid hydrogen for competition was therefore waived,and the use of hydrogen stored in either liquid during FIA World Land Speed Record Attempts is authorised.
About JCB
JCB, the world’s third largest construction equipment brand by volume, has 22 plants on four continents: 11 in the UK and others in India, Brazil, the USA and China.JCB is a family company, which wasfounded on October 23rd, 1945, by the late Joseph Cyril Bamford CBE. His sonAnthony,nowLord Bamford, has beenChairman since 1975. JCB has just celebrated its 80th birthday.
In 2021, JCB unveiled its first ever prototype products powered by hydrogen: a backhoe loader and a Loadall telescopic handler.JCB’s purpose-engineered zero CO² hydrogen engine was designed after a challenge to the company’s engineers from Lord Bamford. As part of a £100 million investment, a team of 150 engineers has been working on the exciting hydrogen engine project and more than 200 JCB hydrogen combustion engines have so far been produced, with the first machines now in production.
Source: Federation Internationale de l’Automobile – FIA
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