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A 626-horsepower Land Rover Defender Octa would not have been the obvious choice for launching a 406-mph hydrogen-powered land-speed record machine. Even so, that is exactly what JLR says its SUV did recently at the Bonneville Salt Flats, where the JCB Hydromax posted a new hydrogen-combustion land-speed record of 406.320 mph (653.9 km/h) on August 11th. As it turns out, if the task is to push a 5600-pound machine to 60 mph on loose salt, a twin-turbo V-8 off-roader starts to sound surprisingly logical.

The JCB Hydromax was driven by Andy Green, who still holds the outright land-speed record after taking the ThrustSSC to 763 mph in 1997. JLR says the attempt secured both a Southern California Timing Association speed record and an FIA world record for a hydrogen combustion vehicle.

The Hydromax’s gearing is designed for extreme speed, but only after it is already in motion. Under Bonneville regulations, it was allowed to receive a push for up to 984 feet (also known as 300 metres) at the beginning of each run, and JCB called on a Defender Octa to provide that vital initial shove. The SUV’s job was to accelerate the 5600-lb land-speed challenger from a standstill to 60 miles an hour within that permitted distance.

That role involved far more than just fitting a tow hitch and leaning on the accelerator. JLR installed a bespoke push plate onto the Octa’s integrated, crash-tested winch mount, disabled the mount’s deformable crumple zone, and added further reinforcement, including a brace at the front recovery point.

Keeping both vehicles correctly aligned was just as important as outright power. The Octa’s hydraulically linked 6D Dynamics suspension is engineered to reduce body roll and pitch, helping the push plate remain level under heavy acceleration. JLR says the arrangement worked without adding ballast to the Defender, despite the extra hardware mounted at the front.

Once the Hydromax crossed 60 mph, it continued under its own power — and after each run, the Defender sped back across the salt to recover the Hydromax for another attempt. It is a rather remarkable assignment for an SUV more commonly spotted in everyday settings such as the school pick-up line.