Northern Irish farmer wins European Drivers' Championship

Held at the Michelin Technical Innovation Centre Test Circuit in Ladoux, France, farmers and contractors tested their skills behind the wheel of John Deere’s new 6250R series tractor – riding on Michelin’s latest generation ROADBIB tyres, which were unveiled at the event ahead of their planned Q1 2018 launch.

Samuel earned his place at the final after registering to take part online, and winning hundreds of votes to secure himself the chance to compete at an international level. This saw him treated to an exclusive two-day visit to Ladoux, which is one of the world’s largest vehicle test centres, featuring 20 test tracks with a combined length of 45km.

To compete in the challenge each participant had to master the challenges of speed, manoeuvrability, fuel efficiency and soil protection by developing their own winning driving strategy for tasks that are typical for the daily work of a farmer or contractor. The winner was the farmer who adopted the best overall strategy combining speed with lowest possible fuel consumption and lowest soil compaction in the field. Their skills were tested around a carefully constructed 18km long course where even the smallest mistake mattered.

Javier Fernandez, Product Marketing Manager for the new 6250R series tractor at John Deere, says: “Samuel decided to go for the AUTO transmission mode, which automatically adjusts the gear ratio and engine speed to get the maximum performance without compromising efficiency. This proved to be an excellent strategy, and helped him to deliver a winning performance.”

Alexandre Gasc, Marketing Product Manager for Michelin’s new ROADBIB range, adds: “Tyre pressures are critical, and Samuel ensured maximum fuel efficiency and minimal soil compaction across this demanding road and field circuit. It was an event designed to challenge even the best drivers, but he put in a fantastic effort and was a truly deserving winner.”