It must be engraved in the DNA. After decades of a successful career at the World Rally Championship, Juha Kankkunen he didn't just straighten his gloves and helmet. It is true that he took other paths, such as a foray into politics or even involvement with a low-cost airline.
But these “distractions” couldn't keep him away from the call for speed.
In association with Nokian, the well-known tire brand, Juha Kankkunen set in 2007 the world record for speed on ice driving a Bentley Continental GT, with an average of 321.65 km/h. But it didn't last long. In 2011, just four years later, he raised his own brand with an average speed of 330,695 km/h, still driving a Bentley, but swapping the GT for a Continental Supersports convertible, using E85 as fuel.
Four more years later, we reach the present, and Juha Kankkunen put his name back on Guinness World Records. But this time he wasn't behind the wheel of a car… Again associated with Nokian, promoting their new winter tire Hakkapeliitta TRI for tractors, the flying finnish “flew” over the snow up to 130.165 km/h (final average), setting a new world speed record!
The machine recruited comes from Valtra, of Finnish origin. The T234 model presents itself with 250 hp, 1000 Nm of torque and 7.7 tons! At the end of this article we leave a second longer film about this feat, allowing us to verify that despite the engine components being original, the electronic management was revised, freeing up more horses. It would be interesting to know if the transmission has been altered, as the T234's top speed is originally only 53 km/h.
Nothing invalidates the feat. Juha Kankkunen, on snow, on a farm machine, at 130 km/h. Amazing!