Driver Andy Green called it a 'huge privilege' to smash the record, while JCB chairman Lord Bamford told GB News it was 'positively thrilling'

JCB has set a new world land speed record for hydrogen-powered vehicles with its Hydromax car.

The astonishing record was achieved on Tuesday afternoon at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, in the United States.

An average speed of 406.32mph was recorded across two high-speed runs, making it the fastest a hydrogen combustion car has ever travelled.

The 32-foot-long vehicle, piloted by Andy Green OBE — the only driver to have broken the sound barrier on land in ThrustSSC— obliterated the previous hydrogen combustion record.

Officially known as the Category A, Group XIV, Class Seven FIA World Flying Record Start Land Speed Record, it had stood since 2004, when a BMW H2R reached 185.5mph.

The Hydromax more than doubled the old benchmark, surpassing it by over 220mph.

The Hydromax is powered by a pair of hydrogen engines that JCB also fits to its commercial diggers, delivering a combined output of 1,600 brake horsepower.

The remarkable engines are made at JCB's engine factory in Foston, Derbyshire, UK.

During the first run, the car clocked 400.623mph before reaching 412.135mph on its second attempt.

Those two figures were averaged to produce the official record of 406.320mph.

The achievement also means the Hydromax has eclipsed JCB's own Dieselmax, which set a speed of 350.092mph back in 2006.

That earlier record was itself a landmark moment for British engineering, but the Hydromax has now beaten it by more than 56mph.

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Both milestones were accomplished at the same iconic venue in the Utah desert, two decades apart.

Lord Bamford, JCB's chairman, said: "Twenty years ago we came to Bonneville with JCB Dieselmax and showed what British engineering could do with diesel power.

"Today we have done it again this time with engines powered by hydrogen.

"This record was set by production-based engines, the same engines powering JCB diggers right now. That is the point of JCB Hydromax: it shows hydrogen works, and it works today at the highest level with zero emissions."

Andy Green added: "Bonneville is the spiritual home of the world land speed record, and JCB Hydromax has just written itself into that history.

"The car was terrific - stable, strong and fast. Setting a world land speed record with hydrogen power, 20 years after Dieselmax, is a huge privilege. This record is a huge achievement by a world class team and superb technology."

GB News had visited the salt flats to speak to Lord Bamford before the remarkable milestone.

As Hydromax sped past, the peer told GB News: "God, it is positively thrilling. My God, it's going quick, isn't it?!"

"It's definitely British engineering at its best," he added. "And it is showing British engineering, particularly with hydrogen as a fuel, is very, very possible."