White bullet: The WhiteHawk is put through its paces ©Stefan Goroncy

Jason Queally has got a race on his hands when it comes to breaking Sam Whittingham’s land speed record.

Top German sprint cyclist Jan van Eijden is also gearing up in his attempt to become the fastest man on Earth under his own power.

 

	Peak condition: Van Eijden in training ©Stefan Goroncy

As the reigning World Sprint Champion, there is no doubt van Eijden has the ability to launch a serious attack on Whittingham's magical mark of 117.1kph/72.74mph. He has also held both German and European sprint titles, and last year saw him come fifth in the sprint event at the Sydney Olympics.

Van Eijden's vehicle, designed and built by Guido Mertens, is called the WhiteHawk and already has a record-breaking pedigree.

It was used to set new world records for the distance covered by a human-powered vehicle in both one hour (Lars Teutenberg of Germany, 81.18km/50.44 miles) and six hours (Axel Fehlau, also of Germany, 360km/223.967 miles).

Team WhiteHawk is a part of the RSC Speedbike Bergisch-Gladbach Cycling Club in Germany, a club solely devoted to the athletic riding of recumbent bicycles.

 

Speed machine: The WhiteHawk ©Stefan Goroncy

As with Queally's vehicle, industrial expertise and technical help have been vital to the WhiteHawk's construction. Famous motor vehicle manufacturers such as Opel and Continental have played important roles, as has the Institute of Plastics Processing at Aachen University of Technology.

However, in contrast to the Queally team heading to America, it is likely van Eijden's record attempt will take place at an airfield in Nijmegen, Holland. Other possible locations are in Germany, namely the Opel test track in Dudenhofen or the Continental test track near Hannover.

In what could turn out to be another great Anglo-German sporting saga, van Eijden's attempt is scheduled to be made between June and October this year.

- Ash Potterton