At 654 km/h: British car covers Cairo-Alexandria distance in 20 minutes

The record is official—almost. British engineering firm JCB has smashed the world speed record for hydrogen-powered internal combustion vehicles, with its JCB Hydromax averaging 654.4 km/h across two runs.

Two opposing runs, one stunning average

On the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, the car hit 644.7 km/h on its first pass, then surged to 663.2 km/h on the second. The average: 406.320 mph (654.4 km/h). All done under FIA rules, which require two runs in opposite directions within one hour.

What that means for Egypt: Cairo to Alexandria in 20 minutes

Heres the striking part. The distance between Cairo and Alexandria is roughly 218 kilometers—at top speed, the JCB Hydromax could cover it in just 20 minutes, assuming the driver holds 654 km/h the whole way. That obliterates the previous hydrogen combustion record of 298.5 km/h, set by BMW H2R back in 2004.

Behind the wheel was Andy Green, a Royal Air Force wing commander and Member of the Order of the British Empire. He completed both qualifying runs under strict international supervision, yet the new record still awaits official ratification from the FIA, the global governing body of motorsport.