BBC America's Top Gear Sets Guinness World Record for Fastest Tractor
[Image result for bbc america logo] Press Release TOP GEAR SUPERCHARGES FARMING BY SETTING A NEW GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS* TITLE FOR FASTEST TRACTOR Thursday, March 28, 2018 - This week's Top Gear sees Matt LeBlanc revolutionizes British agriculture by creating a high-speed tractor and ahead of the episode, The Stig has set a new Guinness World Records title for Fastest Tractor with a speed of 87.2mph in a uniquely modified version of the farmer's favorite ride - the 'Track-tor'. LeBlanc and Chris Harris also make an attempt to break the world record but viewers will have to tune-in Sunday at 8pm on BBC America to see if they achieve it or not. However, their tame racing driver has already set the bar high by smashing the previous record (80.7mph - in Vuojärvi, Finland held since February 19, 2015) while driving the 'Track-tor' on the set of Top Gear on Wednesday, March 14th. Engineered at the Top Gear Agricultural Technology Centre, the 'Track-tor' is a 500-brake horsepower, Lamborghini-style orange-colored farming automotive Frankenstein powered by a 5.7 liter Chevy V8 engine and supported by 4-wheel brakes, adjustable air suspension and 54-inch tires. And in true Top Gear style, it's also fitted with a push button start, a barometer and a Wellington boot and spade rack. Top Gear presenter and heavy machinery fanatic Matt LeBlanc commented, "As the proud owner of no less than four tractors, you could say I'm a bit of an enthusiast. The theme of this week's film is that tractors are blocking up Britain. When you get stuck behind one, you can't go anywhere. So we're trying to speed up farming. When Lewis Hamilton retires, this is what he'll be driving!" Jack Brockbank, Official Guinness World Records Adjudicator said, "To see The Stig hurtle past me in a tractor at 87mph was surreal, but hugely impressive. Equally as impressive is the engineering expertise of the Top Gear team that made this possible - the combination of their skills makes for brilliant record-breaking fun." In Sunday's episode, Matt LeBlanc and Chris Harris test the 'Track-tor' by taking it on a motorway, competing in a hedge-trimming contest against Farmer of the Year, and taking on a well-known food manufacturer in a frozen vegetable challenge, but it's The Stig who really puts the modified motor through its paces on the Countryfile Farm, ruining filming on the BBC America program. The Stig will be seen giving presenter Ellie Harrison a soaking and infuriating John Craven by loudly gate-crashing his earnest piece to camera. He also finds time to burst through barn doors, perform a sequence of donuts and round up sheep in the high-powered machine. The Track-tor's unique modifications include (see accompanying infographic): · Push button start · Lamborghini-style orange color · 500bhp · 4-wheel brakes (a regular tractor is only braked on the rear axle) · 5.7 liter 350ci small block Chevy V8 engine · Adjustable air suspension system to raise and lower body · 54 inch Super Swamper Bogger rear tires from USA · 20-inch split rim wheels · Ariel Atom LED lights front & back · Twin Hydraulic handbrake to lock each rear wheel independently · 17" Racing Wide Angle Rear View Mirror · Barometer · Wellington boot & spade rack · Rotating boot brush (toilet brush connected to a drill!) TOP GEAR Digital Press Site & Screening Room: http://www.bbcapr.com/epk/top-gear<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.bbcapr.com_epk_top-2Dgear&d=DwMF-g&c=qwStF0e4-YFyvjCeML3ehA&r=uhY8ItsQTznXhODQ0OEdoD2mAZr1NnfbWnlfLLjhhfg&m=5Y7hI_7Lwa6kXgQwWeUETWCdnDXB8pXcKrfmnVrEBLg&s=0whQkZ-YPabRFv9tFzfGQf3LXC7MWNT9sf-c9gWwSvc&e=> Press Materials: http://press.amcnetworks.com/bbc-america/shows/top-gear/ Website: http://www.bbcamerica.com/shows/top-gear @BBCAMERICA<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__twitter.com_BBCAMERICA&d=DgMF-g&c=qwStF0e4-YFyvjCeML3ehA&r=6oR1oB50UF2UES3z2aRMQ3XntxPt4p4gt6e-tD5Siuc&m=-OtKxzA1LEYVZaoy4EyyukeEGyniIavOgsSzQLvwskk&s=zDR52yKJ6piI2bC5gzH6eAFIoaqWg0RJIuync_L_n6s&e=> | @TopGear_BBCA<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__twitter.com_TopGear-5FBBCA&d=DwMGaQ&c=qwStF0e4-YFyvjCeML3ehA&r=6oR1oB50UF2UES3z2aRMQ3XntxPt4p4gt6e-tD5Siuc&m=qXN1C7q96P-QWYXzpL6qY2tERQOxDs0-51Uusf3rIqM&s=rCDNtGuRzAlB2rYuoXNsaWoapjZXFeY8Atlxafwo8hw&e=> | #TopGear ### For more information please contact: Devin Johnson BBC America, SVP, Public Relations Devin.Johnson@BBCAmerica.com<mailto:Devin.Johnson@BBCAmerica.com> Amy Mulcair BBC America, PR Consultant Amy.Mulcair@bbcamerica.com<mailto:Amy.Mulcair@bbcamerica.com> About BBC AMERICA BBC AMERICA is a hub of innovative, culturally contagious programming including the Emmy® and IDA-winning Planet Earth II, top-rated science-fiction phenomenon Doctor Who, ground-breaking unscripted series Top Gear, buzzy and hilarious The Graham Norton Show as well as the upcoming series Killing Eve from Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Planet Earth: Blue Planet II, the next chapter in the epic story of our planet, as well as Premier League Darts. 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