Finnish rally legend Juha Kankkunen has set a new tractor speed record of 88.88mph at the wheel of a modified T-series Valtra.

The four-time World Rally Champion – famous for tearing through forests in a 1990s Lancia Delta Integrale – set the record in February while driving on a snow-covered airfield in northern Finland.

To get up to this speed the T234 tractor was electronically tuned to boost engine output, but didn’t have any upgraded hardware.

Valtra is remaining tight-lipped about the actual power and torque figures the Sisu engine was pumping out, but it was sufficient to snap one of the drive shafts during one of the earlier record attempts.

See also: First impressions of Valtra’s redesigned T-series tractor

The tractor was also fitted with specialist Nokian Hakkapeliitta TRI winter tyres. These have a specialist block tread pattern to improve grip in snowy and icy conditions.

Speaking of the record-breaking run, Mr Kankkunen said the tractor was surprisingly stable at speed.

“I have done top speed tests in several cars. This was the first time with a tractor and we immediately achieved a world record. The tyres and tractor worked really well together even though the weather was challenging,”

The record took place on 19 February 2015 on the emergency airfield of Vuojarvi, Finland, about 20km from the city of Sodankyla, near Rovaniemi.

The total length of the packed snow strip was about 2,300m, with a 50m speed trap in the centre.

The Guinness World Records organisation was there to verify the record.