O'Reilly races round the clock to showcase VW Jetta

The VW Jetta's diesel technology means fewer fuel stops.

Maurice O'Reilly has staying power - the motorsport ace goes for 24 hours at a time.

He's got so good at it he flies to Germany each year to drive for VW's factory endurance effort, and now he's set a record in New Zealand.

O'Reilly has taken a VW Jetta to three successive podium finishes in the 24-Hour Race at Nurburgring. Not surprisingly, he was so impressed with the car he bought it.

The Jetta is one of two prototypes built by VW as part of its motorsport development programme.

But forget fire-breathing, petrol-swilling monsters, O'Reilly drives a diesel.

And not a thoroughbred V12 like Audi's space-age Le Mans-winning car, but a medium-size, sensible, family sedan.

However, this isn't quite the standard 2.0-litre car you can buy for $46,490. It does use the same basic engine but it's been tweaked to produce 170kW.

O'Reilly's tight-lipped on the torque figure but clearly it's enough. The car also gets a full race suspension and a few different wheel and tyre options.

But it's the diesel technology that's the key to this car's motorsport success. Drivers can go much further on a tank of fuel, while drivers of petrol cars handicap themselves every time they have to make a fuel stop.

O'Reilly brought his car to New Zealand and approached the local distributor with his record-breaking idea.

VW organised German experts to visit and booked Manawatu's Manfeild track.

The result? Four drivers took the car round the track to cover 2642km (provisional) in 24 hours, smashing the Peugeot 306's record of 2582km. VW New Zealand general manager Dean Sheed says: "The endurance event was just a good way to show both power and economy. That's our catchline."

And it seems to be working, with 2500 diesel VWs sold new since they started arriving in 2001.

As for O'Reilly and his Jetta, after setting speed records last month and endurance standards this, expect to see him again on local racetracks.