JCB car beats diesel speed record

Tests were conducted before temperatures hit their peak

A car built by JCB has broken the diesel engine land speed record after reaching 328.767mph (529km/h).

A JCB Dieselmax spokesman said the vehicle attained the average speed during two runs in Utah, USA.

Confirmation was given on Tuesday by the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile. An attempt to better the record will be made on Wednesday.

The Staffordshire-built vehicle was driven by Wing Cmdr Andy Green from RAF Wittering in Cambridgeshire.

We now have the fastest diesel in the world Driver Andy Green

The Dieselmax car is powered by two turbo-charged JCB engines built at the company's plant at Rocester.

The record-breaking attempts took place at Bonneville Salt Flats at daybreak, when conditions were most suitable.

'Marvellous achievement'

The previous diesel land speed record is 236mph (380km/h), set in August 1973.

Mr Green said: "This is exactly what we came to do today - this is British engineering at its absolute best. We now have the fastest diesel in the world.

"We have now set two records in only four runs which is a stunning engineering and team achievement."

Project director Dr Tim Leverton said: "To have built the world's fastest diesel is a stunning achievement for the JCB Dieselmax team and the car performed superbly."

Sir Anthony Bamford, chairman of JCB, said: "This is a marvellous achievement for JCB, and a wonderful tribute to British engineering."

The team behind the 23ft-long (7m) racer has spent a week testing the Dieselmax in Utah.

In 1997, Wing Cmdr Green became the only person to drive at supersonic speeds in the vehicle Thrust SSC when he achieved a speed of 763mph (1227kph).

Daytime temperatures on the Bonneville Salt Flats typically exceed 40C (104F).