John Deere and Michelin are once again hosting the European Tractor 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.

The competition can be entered via either the John Deere or Michelin websites. Once entered, it will be a battle of the social media likes to decide which of the entrants are chosen to be in the final 16 contestants.

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 site

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. The 16 participants will be the first customers worldwide to drive the 6250R in real-life conditions.

Strategy

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.

If you fancy entering and testing your driving skills against the best in Europe, see www.lightstrongsmart.com. The closing date is the 15 May.