The launch of “Tractor of the Year 2018: Let the challenge begin” took place at Palazzo Arzaga, Lake Garda, Italy, on 15 and 16 May.

The kick-off to the Tractor of the Year Awards was attended by representatives from 15 leading tractor manufacturers, along with an international judging panel of 24 journalists from across Europe.

The event provided leading tractor manufacturers with a platform to showcase their candidates for the award categories, tractor of the year 2018, best of specialised 2018, best utility 2018 and best design 2018 categories.

Fabio Zammaretti, chair of the Tractor of The Year Awards, said: “The tractor of the year is the only award in Europe where all the participants are strongly involved in all phases of the awarding process. The Let the Challenge Begin event is the beginning and a very unique occasion for the manufacturers to present their product innovation to the international jury.”

The shortlist of finalists for the 2018 awards will be announced by the end of June. This will follow a stringent performance assessment of nominees based on criteria such as tractor transmission, electronics, hydraulics, cab comfort, innovative technical features, options and design.

The final awards ceremony will take place at the leading agricultural exhibition, Agritechnica, in Hannover, Germany, on 12 November.

Last year’s winners were the Case IH Optum 300 CVX (tractor of the year), Antonio Carraro Tony 9800 TR (best of specialised), New Holland T5.120 (best utility) and the Deutz-Fahr 6215 RC shift (best design).