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An Audi RS6 with studded tyres has claimed the world record for the fastest speed on ice.

Nokian Tyres test driver Janne Laitinen drove a standard Audi RS6 - equipped with his firm's studded tyres - to a new high of 332.3km/h on the Gulf of Bothnia in Oulu, Finland.

Speaking to TopGear.com, Nokian said: “We’ve registered the event with Guinness. We had two FIA-certified independent officials observing and witnessing the event.”

Just last month rally champ Juha Kankkunen drove a Bentley Continental SS across the frozen waters of the Baltic Sea at 330.7km/h.

The RS6's run was recorded along an 14km ice track in, obviously, freezing conditions.

Sure, hooning across ice at breakneck speeds is a barrel of laughs, but it's a bit...well, you know. Unless of course, it's an indicator of a dastardly, ice-age future. After all, TG's recent first drives of the Audi RS3 and Ferrari FF have also been on the frozen stuff...