---
title: "103-MPH JCB Fastrac 8000 Tuned by Williams F1 Is the World’s Fastest Tractor"
description: "First Honda breaks 100 mph on a lawnmower, now this crew’s gone 103 mph in a tractor. What's next?"
date: "2019-06-24"
modified: "2019-06-24"
authors:
  - name: "Chris Tsui"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/chris-tsui"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/28665/103-mph-jcb-tractor-tuned-by-williams-f1-breaks-british-speed-record"
categories:
  - "News"
---

# 103-MPH JCB Fastrac 8000 Tuned by Williams F1 Is the World’s Fastest Tractor

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2019/06/Screenshot_20190624-145419.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

British industrial equipment manufacturer JCB has broken the top speed record for tractors, hitting 103.6 miles per hour in a modified version of its Fastrac 8000. In case you forgot, the previous record of 87 mph was set by none other than [*Top Gear*'s 500-horsepower "Track-tor."](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/19571/top-gear-set-a-guinness-world-record-for-the-fastest-tractor-on-the-planet>)

Built in secret over the past several months, this speedy farming machine is powered by a 7.2-liter, six-cylinder diesel engine producing 1,000 horsepower and 1,843 pound-feet of torque. According to [*Farmer's Weekly*](<https://www.fwi.co.uk/machinery/tractors/guy-martin-smashes-british-tractor-speed-record-in-jcb-fastrac>), the regular Agco CVT transmission has been replaced by a lorry-spec six-speed ZF manual. It's also been lightened and had its aerodynamics worked on with assistance from Williams Advanced Engineering. Yes, the same crew behind [the Formula 1 team of the same name.](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/26446/williams-reveals-new-for-2019-f1-car-replacement-for-outgoing-title-sponsor-martini>)

https://twitter.com/_/status/1142147111242387456

Hitting triple-digit speeds on Yorkshire's Elvington Airfield, the modified Fastrac was driven by motorcycle racer and TV presenter Guy Martin.

"It had been a great day with the JCB at Elvington, proper job with some right proper engineers. She felt rock steady on the runway, job's a peach," Martin exclaimed.

![message-editor%2F1561405641353-42097.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1561405641353-42097.jpg>)
**JCB**

And don't think [modifying a tractor to hit illegal-on-the-highway speeds](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/26593/police-seize-new-holland-tractor-caught-street-racing-against-motorcycles>) was the scheme of some rebellious, skunkworks engineer. The whole thing was apparently JCB chairman Lord Bamford's idea.

"We've long harbored a dream to attempt a speed record with the Fastrac and the whole team has worked tirelessly to achieve this amazing result," said Lord Bamford. "I'm extremely proud of what they have achieved in such a short space of time. It is British engineering at its best and it really does highlight the skills and innovation we have in our engineering team. They have done a truly fantastic job."

A documentary on JCB's record-breaking tractor will air in the U.K. on *Channel 4* later this year. In the meantime, here's *Top Gear*'s Matt LeBlanc and Chris Harris tooling around in the previous record holder.

https://youtube.com/embed/vjFM_LOwHRY

## Author
Chris Tsui is *The Drive*'s former Reviews Editor and current freelance automotive journalist. He's based in Toronto.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/cltsuii/>)