For us mere humans, the act of hydroplaning, or driving on water and losing complete grip of the road is not comfortable. Just like driving on a wet icy road. This is known as "jesus wheeling" - where you just pray to stay alive!
Adding enough engine power and having the right type of tires you can get a light truck to drive on water. This is done in the Formula Offroad races and is really fun to watch...
...but don't try this "at home" with your unmodified 4x4
4x4 Formula Offroad trucks driving on water!
Top Gear Video: Jeep Driving Across Water
Formula OffRoad champion Gisli G. Jonsson tries his truck with the task of driving more than half a kilometer over lake Kleifarvatn. Gísli is driving his souped up nitro powered 800 hp Formula Offroad truck. Richard Hammonds gets on board and gets the thrill ride of a lifetime. Gisli also tries his abilities against a snowmobile where you get to see them compete on the same lake!
Icelandic off-road champion Gunnar Pálmi Pétursson accepts the ultimate challenge: To drive his souped-up 1942 Army Jeep on water across the harbor of his hometown. The show was produced, directed and edited by H.A. Arnarson for "Ripley's Believe it or Not!" in 2002.
60 Minutes Australia 4x4 Iceland Steven Rice as a producer from the Australian 60 minutes contacted me a few weeks ago since he was going to take his team to cover the Icelandic meltdown from a little bit different angle. He wanted to see Formula Off Road 4x4 trucks in action! The day of the shooting is one of the best days of the month. No wind and no clouds.
