Audi has proved how a diesel engine can win top-line races, but how fast can a diesel car go? The diesel land speed record has remained untouched since August 1973, when Virgil W Snyder worked his Thermo King Streamliner up to 235.756mph. Today's Audi R10 racer isn't much slower than that, so clearly there's a leap to be made. And the company about to make it is that doyen of digger-makers, JCB.