France’s TF1 TV channel put on an unusual show: a competition between a Fendt 828 Vario S4 tractor and… a Porsche 911 GT3! The idea came from the creators of Automoto, a programme popular in France, with the goal of raising the profile of the agricultural machine operator profession. The programme usually covers automotive machinery, and every episode is always accompanied by demonstration test drives.
A tractor and a car: at first glance, these two machines have little in common. Except perhaps their German origin and their status as premium-class equipment. Both are widely known for their exceptional manoeuvrability and performance, proven through numerous trials and tests. Here, these representatives of the passenger car world and the tractor world were about to compete fiercely and show what they’re really made of.
Former racing driver Anthony Beltoise was invited to take part in the programme, tasked with demonstrating everything the Porsche could do. Imagine his surprise when, instead of a car, a tractor drove out of the hangar to meet him, as is usual on Automoto. Could the Fendt tractor really outdo the Porsche?
And so the run began: both machines had to complete a “slalom” so TV viewers could assess their manoeuvrability. For this, a specially cleared and fenced-off runway was set up at the Bríenne-le-Château aerodrome. Both machines handled the task quite well, as modern equipment should.
But that was only part of the challenge. They then had to cover the same course, but in reverse. And that’s where the Porsche ran into trouble: the car went through the slalom markers, clipping and scattering them. Not a clean run at all.
For the Fendt tractor, though, this task turned out to be a total breeze. For reverse driving, the operator’s seat can be reconfigured in a matter of minutes. What’s more, the tractor works with a GPS navigator, allowing it to move with high precision. To prove its effectiveness, the operator’s eyes were blindfolded with a scarf for the test. The Fendt team was confident the tractor wouldn’t let them down. And it didn’t: the Fendt 828 Vario S4’s result was the best!
