WENDOVER, UTAH — Green drove the JCB Hydromax, a 32-foot (9.75-meter) vehicle powered by two hydrogen internal combustion engines with a combined 1,600 horsepower. The JCB Hydromax engines were adapted from engines used in JCB construction machinery. Green's record was measured as an average of two runs in a car powered by two hydrogen internal combustion engines, with a combined 1,600 brake horsepower (bhp).

"If you’re serious about emissions, you have to be serious about hydrogen, and a land speed project is the perfect way to prove it," JCB Chair Anthony Bamford said. Bamford stated that the company has invested more than $134 million into hydrogen-powered engines. JCB signed a deal to buy green hydrogen created using renewable energy.

"It’s magic to be able to showcase this technology and to showcase how good the engineering is on the best racing surface in the world, Bonneville Salt Flats," Green said. Green is a retired Royal Air Force fighter pilot. The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Green is 64 years old.

In May, the Hydromax reached 208mph (335km/h) during testing at RAF Wittering in Cambridgeshire. Green reached a speed of 368.347 mph (592.797 kph) in the JCB Hydromax during practice runs last week. The Bonneville Salt Flats are located about 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Salt Lake City.

Green is the only person to have broken the sound barrier in a car. Green set the outright land speed record of 763.035 mph (1,227.98 kph) in 1997 using a car powered by twin jet engines. Green set the land speed record for a diesel-powered car at 350.092 mph (563.4 kph) in 2006 at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

"What the peak speed is, I can’t say. We just don’t know. Part of the adventure here is we’re going to find out," he said.

Why It Matters

The record demonstrates an increase in performance for hydrogen internal combustion technology, rising from 185.5 mph to 406.320 mph. This achievement follows financial investment by JCB into hydrogen engine development and supply agreements for green hydrogen. The event shows the potential for hydrogen technology in reducing emissions through high-performance applications.

Timeline

Andy Green set the outright land speed record of 763.035 mph (1,227.98 kph) in 1997 using a car powered by twin jet engines. Andy Green set the land speed record for a diesel-powered car at 350.092 mph (563.4 kph) in 2006 at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Andy Green reached a speed of 368.347 mph (592.797 kph) in the JCB Hydromax during practice runs last week. On August 11, 2026, Green said, "It’s magic to be able to showcase this technology and to showcase how good the engineering is on the best racing surface in the world, Bonneville Salt Flats." On that same day, Andy Green drove the JCB Hydromax, a 32-foot (9.75-meter) vehicle powered by two hydrogen internal combustion engines with a combined 1,600 horsepower. Also on August 11, 2026, Andy Green reached a speed of 406.320 mph (653.908 kph) in the JCB Hydromax. British driver Andy Green set a Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile world land speed record for hydrogen internal combustion engines on Tuesday.

What's New

In 2006, Andy Green set the land-speed record for a diesel-powered car — 350.092 mph (563.4 kph) — at the Bonneville Salt Flats, according to the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile. He said, "It’s magic to be able to showcase this technology and to showcase how good the engineering is on the best racing surface in the world, Bonneville Salt Flats." The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile states that Andy Green reached 406.320 mph (653.908 kph) in a car powered by two hydrogen internal combustion engines with a combined 1,600 horsepower, setting the record for that vehicle category. Green's record was measured as an average of two runs in a car powered by two hydrogen internal combustion engines, with a combined 1,600 brake horsepower (bhp). A study titled The German Armed Forces Supreme Command and British and American prisoners-of-war, 1939-1945: policy and practice was published in 2000 in Library and Archives Canada (Government of Canada). Andy Green reached a speed of 406.320 mph (653.908 kph) in the JCB Hydromax. British driver Andy Green set a Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile world land speed record for hydrogen internal combustion engines on Tuesday. The previous official hydrogen combustion title was set in 2004.

How Sources Differ

Regarding Andy Green's speed, desk_web reported that in 2006, Andy Green set the land-speed record for a diesel-powered car — 350.092 mph (563.4 kph) — at the Bonneville Salt Flats, according to the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile. The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile official record stated that Andy Green reached a speed of 406.320 mph (653.908 kph) in the JCB Hydromax. Regarding Andy Green's speed, desk_web reported that in 2006, Andy Green set the land-speed record for a diesel-powered car — 350.092 mph (563.4 kph) — at the Bonneville Salt Flats, according to the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile.

Southern California Timing Association Bonneville Speed Week results stated that Andy Green reached a speed of 368.347 mph (592.797 kph) in the JCB Hydromax during practice runs last week. Regarding the land speed record, desk_web reported that in 2006, Andy Green set the land-speed record for a diesel-powered car — 350.092 mph (563.4 kph) — at the Bonneville Salt Flats, according to the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile. Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile records stated that the previous world land speed record for hydrogen internal combustion engines was 185.5 mph (298.5 kph). Regarding Andy Green's land speed record power source, desk_web reported that in 2006, Andy Green set the land-speed record for a diesel-powered car — 350.092 mph (563.4 kph) — at the Bonneville Salt Flats, according to the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile. Guinness World Records stated that Andy Green set the outright land speed record of 763.035 mph (1,227.98 kph) in 1997 using a car powered by twin jet engines. Regarding what Andy Green reached, desk_web reported that the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile states that Andy Green reached 406.320 mph (653.908 kph) in a car powered by two hydrogen internal combustion engines with a combined 1,600 horsepower, setting the record for that vehicle category. Southern California Timing Association Bonneville Speed Week results stated that Andy Green reached a speed of 368.347 mph (592.797 kph) in the JCB Hydromax during practice runs last week. Regarding Andy Green's land speed record rationale, desk_web reported that in 2006, Andy Green set the land-speed record for a diesel-powered car — 350.092 mph (563.4 kph) — at the Bonneville Salt Flats, according to the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile. The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile official record stated that British driver Andy Green set a Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile world land speed record for hydrogen internal combustion engines on Tuesday. Regarding Andy Green being powered by hydrogen internal combustion, desk_web reported that the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile states that Andy Green reached 406.320 mph (653.908 kph) in a car powered by two hydrogen internal combustion engines with a combined 1,600 horsepower, setting the record for that vehicle category. JCB Hydromax technical specifications stated that Andy Green drove the JCB Hydromax, a 32-foot (9.75-meter) vehicle powered by two hydrogen internal combustion engines with a combined 1,600 horsepower. Regarding the rationale internationale automobile andy green hydrogen, desk_web reported that the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile states that Andy Green reached 406.320 mph (653.908 kph) in a car powered by two hydrogen internal combustion engines with a combined 1,600 horsepower, setting the record for that vehicle category. The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile official record stated that British driver Andy Green set a Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile world land speed record for hydrogen internal combustion engines on Tuesday.