John Deere and Michelin are once again hosting the European Drivers’ Championship in June 2017. Sixteen drivers from all over Europe will prove their skills driving the new 6250R tractor at the Michelin test site in Clermont-Ferrand, France. The competition is not only about speed, but also about the best and most efficient driving strategy.
Those who would like to take part should apply now at www.lightstrongsmart.com and 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.
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 29-tonne tandem axle trailer, and all the machines will be equipped with Michelin tyres. The 16 participants will be the first customers worldwide to drive the 6250R in real-life conditions.
At the start of the competition, each operator selects their own driving strategy and decides 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.
Tyres also play a major role in the tractor’s overall performance. Depending on the load, speed and internal tyre pressure, fuel savings can be made and both ground pressure and tyre wear can be reduced.
