Man who broke the sound barrier on land is now driving a 1,600HP hydrogen vehicle in the hopes of breaking three world records

The man who broke the sound barrier on land has now taken on a whole new challenge – breaking three world records in a hydrogen vehicle.

Andy Green already made history back in 1997 when he went supersonic on the ground.

Nearly 30 years later, the 64-year-old is setting his sights on a new challenge.

It involves Utah and a hydrogen JCB – but can lightning strike twice?

After breaking the sound barrier in the 1990s, this man wants to break a few more records

Green has a knack for world records.

Back in 1997, he reached a a speed of 763.035 miles per hour, the first supersonic record in a ThrustSSC [Thrust Supersonic Car], creating a sonic boom in the process.

Breaking the sound barrier is impressive enough, but Green had more automotive magic up his sleeve.

In 2006, he took on the challenge of the Diesel Land Speed, setting a record of 328 miles per hour during two runs on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, driving a JCB Dieselmax.

As if that wasn’t impressive enough, he broke his own record the following day with speeds of 350 miles per hour.

Not satisfied with two records under his belt, Green is taking on three in one go this time around.

Returning to that same patch of Utah salt he graced back in 2006, Green will be gunning for three world records in a hydrogen powered JCB.

The vehicle in question is called the Hydromax, and it spans out at 32 feet long..

Set to take place in August, the FIA has already confirmed it will officiate the runs.

This is evidently something that has been years in the making – five years to be exact, and $133 million on the hydrogen combustion engines.

That all sounds very impressive, but there’s just one question….what records are on the table to be broken in a few months time?

The records that Andy Green is taking aim at in his hydrogen JCB

Here are the records that are up for breaking – the Hydrogen ICE record (185mph), the Hydrogen record (302mph), and JCB Hydromax (350mph).

If he exceeds 350mph, that’s three records in one fell swoop.

“Nobody has actually taken our world record for diesel and we wondered whether we might be able to do the same and take our own record, with a hydrogen engine,” JCB Chairman, Lord Bamford, told the BBC.

In Green’s words, he’d be ‘amazed’ if he doesn’t smash the 350mph record.

“The JCB Diesel car 20 years ago was the most extraordinary straight-line racing vehicle I have ever seen, that’s the reason it’s still, by a long way, the fastest diesel car in history,” he said.

“The [hydrogen] car is lighter than the previous one, it is more aerodynamic than the previous car, it has more power than the previous car. In every key area, it is expected to out-perform.”

“As we progress toward the world record attempt in Bonneville this August, the JCB Hydromax continues to deliver the performance and reliability our engineering teams designed it to achieve,” Ryan Ballard, the JCB Engineering Director, told Supercar Blondie.

“This programme is a significant opportunity to demonstrate the capability of JCB’s hydrogen combustion technology in one of the most demanding environments in the world.

“Every stage of testing is providing valuable data that supports our confidence in the Hydromax and its potential to set a new benchmark for hydrogen‑powered performance.

“We are also very pleased to have Andy Green return as the driver for this project. His experience with high‑speed record attempts and his understanding of what is required to operate safely and consistently at record speeds bring a level of assurance that is invaluable.

“Andy’s involvement strengthens the entire programme as we move into the next phase of preparation and final validation ahead of the Bonneville run.”