JESS Varnish believes she will need a world record performance to take gold at London 2012.

The Bromsgrove track cycling star was last week confirmed in British Cycling’s 18-strong team for the Olympic Games.

Varnish will partner Victoria Pendleton in the women’s team sprint on August 2, where the duo will be among the favourites for gold.

They will face stiff competition from Australia and China as well as the German pair of Miriam Welte and Kristinathen Vogel — who broke the British team’s previous world record at the world championships in April.

Varnish says she is ready to go quicker than ever before.

She said: “The team sprint is an event which is always progressing, the times are constantly coming down and we have to make sure we are in the best shape possible.

“It’s really exciting. At the moment it seems every championship someone is breaking a world record.

“I have no doubt the team which wins in London will set a new world record and we will be doing all we can to make sure it’s us.”

That the Halesowen Cycling Club rider’s selection for the British team came as no surprise is testament to the continued progress she has made in the past 18 months, as she made the first lap position in the team sprint her own.

She is now preparing for a training camp in Newport, Wales, as the countdown to the Games continues.

Varnish added: “It wasn’t a surprise to make the team in the end but it was nice to see it down on paper.

“At the minute I’m completely focused on the event itself. All the publicity and media attention is fun but completely separate.

“I honestly don’t think it will ever get any bigger than this.

“Hopefully I’ve got a few more Olympics in me but to be competing on home soil is really special.

“I’m determined to the make the most of it.”