John Deere and Michelin are looking for Europe’s best tractor driver.
The two companies are hosting the ‘European Drivers’ Championship’ in June of this year. 16 drivers from all over Europe will compete against one another – each behind the wheel of a new 6250R tractor.
The venue for the competition is Michelin’s test site in Clermont-Ferrand, France. According to Michelin, the competition is not only about speed, but also about the best and most efficient driving strategy.
European Drivers’ Championship
Those who would like to take part should apply by clicking here: Apply here
Prospective competitors should then attract as many ‘likes’ as possible from their social media community. The 16 candidates with the most ‘likes’ will be invited to Michelin’s technology centre and proving ground – to represent their home country in the European Drivers’ Championship.
Test track – field and road course
The test site is one of the world’s largest and has 19 test tracks with a total length of 41km (25½ miles). Eight brand new John Deere 6250R tractors, equipped with the new CommandPRO joystick, will be available for the competition.
Featuring a maximum output of 300hp, each tractor will be pulling a Joskin 29t tandem axle trailer, and all the machines will be equipped with Michelin tyres.
At the start of the competition, each operator will select his or her own driving strategy and decide on the appropriate tractor settings, as well as the most suitable tyre pressures. The contestants then have to complete a field and road course, which they have to negotiate as quickly as possible while taking into account fuel consumption and possible soil compaction.
Finally, each driver will be scored on their performance in the following categories: speed, fuel efficiency, soil compaction and driving skills.
John Deere’s goal with this competition is to demonstrate how well-trained operators can improve the performance of their tractors. The results should show how the driver can save time and money by making the right decisions and with the right machine settings.