Scottish forestry contractor Simon Richardson from Langholm in Dumfriesshire was runner-up in the recently-held 2015 European Tractor Drivers Challenge. Jointly organised by John Deere and Michelin, Simon was selected to represent the UK in the competition against five other drivers from France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain, following a John Deere website promotion earlier this year. The event, which took place at Michelin’s Technical Innovation Centre Test Circuit in Ladoux, France, was designed to test the drivers’ mental ability as well as driving skills at one of the world’s largest vehicle test centres. Each participant had to drive his own John Deere 6215R AutoPowr tractor, hauling a 25-tonne Joskin twin-axle trailer around the course and tackling a number of obstacles. The tractors were all equipped with Michelin MachXBib tyres, with the trailers on Michelin CargoXBib High Flotation tyres. The set tasks included road driving, hill climbing, both soft ground and rough terrain driving, reversing and driving at speed. However, the competition was not to see who could finish in the fastest time – it was equally designed to challenge the drivers to set up their tractor and trailer properly and to set the correct tyre pressures beforehand, bearing in mind each of the driving obstacles. Before the challenge began, each driver had to select his own strategy of tractor settings and tyre inflation pressures. Points were awarded for lowest fuel consumption, least ground compaction on the soft soil and driving safety. The competition was won by French contractor Sebastien Mahaut, and Dutch farmer/contractor Edwin Dekkor finished third.