Whitehead’s impressive display moved him closer to the magic 2:35:00 time that will secure him the A-standard qualifying time for the T46 marathon event at the 2011 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics World Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Whitehead's previous record of 2:56:45 had been set in Rome last year.

In difficult conditions, Whitehead smashed his previous leg amputee marathon world record by over five minutes and claimed that he was delighted with the time despite admitting that he can go even quicker.

Whitehead told insideworldparasport: "I set a benchmark for myself by running 1:14:59  at the Reading half marathon just under a month ago so I knew that I was in good shape heading into the race.

"It wasn’t really ideal running conditions in Rotterdam because it was very windy and the lanes are narrow which doesn’t help my running style.

"I found the last 10 kilometres of the race a bit difficult, not physically, but because of the conditions.

"Therefore I was very pleased to break the world record and I can’t complain about that but I know that in the right conditions, I can run even faster than that."

The 33-year-old Nottinghamshire athlete revealed that 2:40:00 is the time he is hoping to reach by the end of the year though he admits that 2:35:00 is the long term goal because it will allow him to compete at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships and quite possible London 2012 too.

There is no marathon event for leg amputees in major international competition, including the Paralympics, so in order for Whitehead to compete at London 2012, he is going to have to qualify in the T46 disability category against arm amputees.

The A-standard qualifying time for the T46 marathon event for the London 2012 Paralympics has not yet been revealed but it is likely to be a very similar time - if not exactly the same time - as the 2:35 mark that represents the A-standard for the IPC Athletics World Championships.

Whitehead said: "It is perhaps too optimistic to think that I can improve by five minutes each time I run but hopefully if I can get to 2:40:00 by the end of the year, 2:35:00 is probably a realistic goal for early 2011.

"The 2011 World Championships in New Zealand and obviously London 2012 are always in the back of my mind but I have to take it one step at a time.

"The Chicago Marathon in October is the race I am really gearing towards now and if the conditions are right there, I think I produce a very fast time.

"Hopefully that will get the attention of UK Athletics because I am still working part time and their funding would allow me to go full time which would give me a huge chance of breaking that 2:35:00 barrier ahead of New Zealand and London."

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