Howden Haynes has already helped to re-write the motor racing history books and has enjoyed his most successful season in the sport but is still determined to finish the year off in style.

The 28-year-old race engineer, from Chearsley, near Thame, played a major part in a diesel-powered sportscar winning the Le Mans 24 Hours for German manufacturer Audi in June.

Since the annual twice-round-the-clock French race, Haynes has been busy working for Audi in America with the aim of guiding Allan McNish and his Italian co-driver Dindo Capello to the American Le Mans Series title.

Earlier this month, Haynes successfully guided McNish and Capello to the ALMS title - the first time in motorsport history that drivers of a diesel sportscar have won an internationally acclaimed championship.

Haynes, who also works in the Grand Prix Masters single-seater series which features Nigel Mansell, said: "Audi's main aim this year was to make history and win Le Mans with the R10 TDI and of course this was my personal ambition too. I was assistant race engineer on the race-winning Audi at Le Mans - it was such a new design and so complicated it was run by two engineers.

"Since Le Mans, I have been involved with Audi Sport North America and concentrating on engineering Allan McNish and Dindo Capello to the 2006 ALMS championship. It's the first time a diesel has won such a prestigious series so I've been lucky to be part of a team making motor racing history."

The Audi R10 TDI not only won its race debut, Le Mans on its first appearance, and now the ALMS championship and remains unbeaten in six races.

Just two races remain in North America, Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta on September 30, a 1,000-mile race, then a four-hour race at Laguna Seca in California, on October 21.

Haynes added: "The year is nearly complete for me but our efforts are now focused on winning the remaining two races.

"I especially want to win Petit Le Mans which I have not yet won and narrowly missed out on winning in 2004 with Johnny Herbert at the wheel of an Audi.

"As for next year, I'd like to continue to be involved in Audi's success and take the fight to Peugeot and their diesel car at Le Mans next June."