Fourteen JCB Loadall telescopic handlers from JCB World Headquarters in Rocester, UK, have been transported to Silverstone Circuit, the home of British motor racing and host of this weekend's Formula 1 Grand Prix, July 14-16. The 506-23TC Loadall Telescopic Handlers - which can lift up to 6,000 lb - will provide four days of support at the race circuit.
The machines were sent on their way in true racing style with the convoy of trucks led by a JCB 3CX Compact backhoe loader wrapped in the colors of Williams Martini Racing to mark JCB’s partnership with the British-based F1 team.
Loadall Development Engineer George Cooper and Sam Goodman, who works in product sales at for JCB, waved off the fleet of machines with traditional racing checkered flags.
Cooper has been instrumental in developing a special jib attachment that will allow the telehandlers to quickly recover crashed cars during the various race events, including F2 and GP3 classification races, and F1 practice, qualifying and the main F1 race event on Sunday, July 16th. He has spent six months working on the re-configured 506-23TC and attachment, and he will be one of five JCB employees who will drive the Loadalls at the circuit, working alongside operators employed by Silverstone. The new jib attachment moves the lifting point of the car away from the actual machine, making it easier and safer to recover a vehicle from the track.
In addition to the JCB Loadall telehandlers, the company has supplied a further six machines to Silverstone including a 8026 mini excavator, VMT260-120 roller, site dumper and a backhoe loader to meet the needs of the circuit on and off the track.