The Ford Transit Custom at this year’s ALD Automotive / Shell FuelSave MPG Marathon.
This year’s ALD Automotive / Shell FuelSave MPG Marathon was won by a couple of drivers who had never met each other before and had never taken part in an eco-driving event, either.
Leicestershire Council employees Nick Chapman and Rosemary Horner took the overall win by returning an impressive 88.69mpg in their Ford Fiesta ECOnetic 1.6 TDCi over the two-day, 339.3-mile event.
Interestingly, the car was the same model used by last year’s winners, so maybe it’s the car that’s the biggest star?
Whatever the case, the winning Fiesta car was comprehensively outperformed in terms of outright fuel consumption by its Fiesta Sport Van sibling, which returned 108.82mpg in the hands of BBC transport correspondent Paul Clifton and his son, beating the Fiesta Van’s official combined figure of 78.5mpg by 38.6%.
Elsewhere in the van categories, VAN Fleet World editor Dan Gilkes managed to coax 52.08mpg from a chunky Isuzu Eiger double-cab pick-up, proving that such vehicles don’t have to be gas guzzlers, while Status Heating employees Leigh Skillet and Richard Bone managed to deliver a 29.1% increase in the manufacturer’s combined consumption figure for their Citroen Berlingo.
Although critics will say that the driving conditions for the MPG Marathon are unrealistic, especially for vans, which might normally be fully-loaded and forced to make many stop-start journeys, the MPG Marathon is structured to be as realistic as possible and drivers have strict time limits to prevent them driving abnormally slowly and had to face headwinds and heavy traffic conditions at times.
Event organiser Ross Durkin commented:
“The MPG Marathon highlights the fuel – and hence emissions – savings that can be achieved by any driver in any vehicle. And as this year’s winners will testify, you don’t have to be a seasoned, hyper-miling pro to do it.
“The motor manufacturers and technology suppliers have done a tremendous job in improving the fuel efficiency of all news cars and vans, but motorists should see their published fuel consumption figures as a target to beat, not the maximum achievable.”
This year, the MPG Marathon took place on the 9th and 10th October, based at Tankersley Manor hotel, near Sheffield. Competitors pushed for the best economy over two days, choosing their own route between a series of fixed points. Each vehicle was fitted with a TRACKER satellite tracking device to measure the exact distance travelled. The competitors covered an average 360 miles of British countryside, including A and B roads and motorway driving. Day 1 took drivers east to Lincoln and York, while day 2 circumnavigated Stockport and Derby.
Vehicles were split into classes depending on CO2 emissions, with a maximum CO2 limit for passenger cars of 180g/km. Awards were given for the most economical drivers, as well as the most efficient cars and vans.
The winners will be awarded at a presentation held on the 16th October at the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall, London.