Together with her brakewoman Annika Drazek, last year’s silver medallist set a track record of 52.94sec in the first run down the Olympic ice track, 0.07 seconds faster than the previous best mark set by the United States' Jamie Greubel Poser and Lauryn Williams two years ago.

The Germans also clocked the quickest time in the second heat, 53.13, for an overall time of 1:46.07.

They go into tomorrow’s final with a 0.31 second lead on Olympic champion Kaillie Humphries of Canada and her brakewoman Melissa Lotholz.

American Elana Meyers Taylor, the defending world champion, is a further 0.02 seconds behind in third with brakewoman Lauren Gibbs. 

"If you’re working at something as big as this, you have to start the way you mean to go on," said Schneiderheinze, the European champion aiming for her second world title but first as a pilot.

"The pressure is always on, whether I’m at the front or further down the field.

"But my win means I can look at tomorrow more calmly."

The top three are immediately followed by junior world champion Stephanie Schneider of Germany and brakewoman Lisa Buckwitz, 0.66 seconds behind, with Olympic bronze medallist Greubel Poser and Cherrelle Garrett fifth, 0.74 back.

Home favourite Christina Hengster and pushing partner Sanne Dekker crashed in the first heat, but moved up three places in the second run to lie in sixth at the half-way stage, 0.90 seconds behind the leaders.

Tomorrow's action in Innsbruck is also due to feature the two-man bobsleigh.