World Record Set To Be Broken At

WORLD RECORD SET TO BE BROKEN AT

SHELL ECO-MARATHON UK

The search to find the world's most fuel-efficient vehicle will take place at the 28th Shell Eco-Marathon UK on the 1st July 2004. The popularity of this international event continues to grow, with teams from as far as the USA and Japan coming to compete this year. A record number of schools, colleges and university teams, as well as some private entries, are all preparing to take part in this year's competition. All the teams are hoping to win the title of 'world's most fuel-efficient vehicle' and the winner will also be hoping to gain an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records.

The 2004 Shell Eco-Marathon UK is aiming to find the team that can design, build and drive the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the world. The teams enter vehicles in one of three different fuel classes: unleaded petrol, diesel and LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas). In the competition, cars are required to drive at an average speed of at least 15 miles per hour for seven laps (10 miles) around the Rockingham racetrack in Corby. At the end of the seven laps Shell Global Solutions' engineers measure the amount of fuel used, and then the fuel-efficiency of the car is calculated. The cars are all designed with maximum fuel efficiency in mind, and as a result the teams can produce some extremely creative vehicles.

Over the years, the fuel economy record has rapidly improved. The first Shell Eco-Marathon winner, in the 1970's was barely able to travel 1,000 miles per gallon (mpg), Nowadays, the cars could travel from London to Hobart, Tasmania on one-gallon of fuel. The most recent record was set at last year's event by Microjoule from St Sebastien in France. They achieved an amazing fuel consumption figure of 10,705 mpg using a fuel mixed using the same techniques as when Shell mixes fuel for the Ferrari Formula One car.

Norman Koch, organiser of the Shell Eco-Marathon UK explains that: 'The Shell Eco-Marathon is a technological and ecological challenge. Through the event, we encourage research into improved energy efficiency and promote teamwork in the transport sector, in a bid to save energy. This is an investment focused firmly on the future and on sustainable energy resources. At the same time, if we could break another world record, that would be even more rewarding!'