A CHARITABLE tractor drive is testing the endurance capabilities of New Holland tractors on 5000-mile drive around the UK.

Scottish farmers have been witnessing the strange sight of two hefty New Holland tractors pulling ‘shepherd’s huts’ for at least the past week on their way round the West Coast of Scotland as part of the charity drive.

The Blue Force Tractor Club’s coastline trip around the UK and Ireland is almost at an end in celebration 100 years of ‘blue’ tractor manufacturing. New Holland has provided new T6.145 and T6.180 tractors for the challenge. which is expected to take 51 days, started in mid-April and is expected to culminate at Tractor Fest, which is being held on June 10 and 11, at Newby Hall, Ripon, North Yorkshire.

Two members of tractor enthusiast club, Blue Force, are undertaking the challenge, not previously attempted on tractors.

The pair set off from New Holland’s Basildon factory in two new T6 tractors.

The drivers on the trip are Phil Gibson, chairman of Blue Force, and Peter Plehov, the club treasurer, who have been driving a route around the coast of mainland UK and Ireland, stopping at several points en-route including Bournemouth, Galway and Edinburgh.

Andrew Watson, business director for New Holland UK and Ireland, said: “We have always had a close relationship with the Blue Force Club so we were delighted to assist Peter and Phil when we heard about their challenge.

“We are following their progress and wish them luck on their journey.”

The trip is almost entirely funded by donations that have come from club members and generous sponsors.

In the far North, New Holland dealer, Robertsons of Orkney, funded the pair’s ferry crossings to the Orkney Islands, where they were well received.

Other New Holland dealers along the 5000-mile route have been hosting events to celebrate 100 years.