Volvo Trucks’ The Iron Knight, driven by Boije Ovebrink, now holds the official speed records for the 500- and 1000-metre distances. During their work on the machine, an expert team from Volvo Trucks found innovative ways of uniting technology with design.
With an average speed of 169km/h and a time of 21.29 seconds, The Iron Knight beat the international speed record for 1000 metres from a standing start. It also beat the corresponding record for the 500-metre distance, at 131.29km/h and 13.71 seconds. During its record-setting attempt, the vehicle reached a top speed of 276km/h.
The record run was carried out at a closed-off test track in northern Sweden. The speed record was monitored and approved by the FIA, the international motorsport association. The truck covered the distance in both directions. Based on these two runs, the average time and speed were calculated. The record result that the FIA presents is the average speed of the two runs.
Behind the wheel of The Iron Knight was Boije Ovebrink, who has more than 30 years’ experience of both car and truck racing. He has previously beaten five speed records, and in 1994 was the European Truck Racing Champion.
With 2400bhp of horsepower, 6000Nm of torque and weighing 4.5 tonnes, The Iron Knight has a power-to-weight ratio above 0.5bhp per kg. Its mid-mounted engine is a significantly modified D13 unit with water-cooled intercooler and four turbochargers.
The I-Shift Dual Clutch transmission maintains torque delivery during gearchanges. Apart from a reinforced clutch (the discs and pressure plates are made of a sintered material), The Iron Knight uses the same gearbox that is fitted to series-manufactured Volvo FH trucks.
The electronics has been kept to a minimum to lower the vehicle’s weight, and the software has been re-programmed to permit the high performance. The truck’s cab is aerodynamically optimised and made of fibre-glass, while the side skirts have large air intakes to supply the engine with cooling air. 
We go truckin’ in a monstrous Actros.
