From one marathon to another
Team Honda's hat-trick in the MPG Marathon and the 2018 Dublin Marathon takes place this weekend.
Team Honda have triumphed in the annual MPG Marathon taking home a hat-trick of titles. The Civic 1.6 i-DTEC Diesel claimed the overall winner’s prize in this years event as well as best percentage improvement on MPG. While the first generation 17 year old Honda Insight took second place overall and winner in the heritage category.
Held on Tuesday 16th and Wednesday 17th October, the two-day eco-driving challenge tests the real-world fuel economy of participating vehicles to the absolute maximum and saw the fuel-sipping 1.6 i-DTEC hatchback record an impressive overall MPG of 87.53 over 331 miles, an uplift of 8.5% on its officially-quoted combined NEDC figure of 80.7mpg, while the 2001 Insight achieved 84.8mpg over 360 miles.
Drivers were charged with working out the most economical route between a number of waypoints across Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Shropshire, Northants and Warwickshire, starting and ending at the Marriott Forest of Arden Hotel near Coventry. Each team was on a strict time limit to complete each day, with stringent penalties incurred for every minute driven over the allotted driving time.
Taking shifts behind the wheel of the Honda Civic were BBC Transport Correspondent Paul Clifton and his daughter, Francoise Clifton. Paul comments: “Amazing result for the Civic diesel, and for me personally; I’ve won two years on the trot, and taken at least a class win seven years out of nine. It was a difficult and hugely entertaining event to do and Frankie was an absolutely outstanding co-driver. There’s no secret trick to this; the aim is to travel in the highest gear at the most economical speed, using energy as efficiently as possible.”
Francoise adds: “We probably could have achieved an even higher result, as the route was incredibly challenging; we went right up into the Peak District on day one, costing 20mpg on the average to that point, and were never able to recover from it. By going cross country and avoiding motorways, our route was by far the shortest of all the competitors, chosen because the car performed at its best on that type of journey.”
Alex Grant, editor of Fleet World, which organises the event comments: "This year's event took place against a backdrop of rising fuel prices and the transition to a new, more realistic, economy test. So the cost of filling a tank, and the distance it can take you, is as high on the agenda as it was when the first MPG Marathon took place amid the fuel protests in 2000.
"Both cars performed exceptionally well despite tough conditions on both days, building on Honda’s consistently strong results in recent years – for its petrol and diesel engines. It proves that Hondas old and new can still set high benchmarks for the competition, no matter what the journey throws your way."
From one spectacular marathon to another, this weekend sees the 2018 Dublin Marathon. With already 20,000 people signed up and ready to take part we would like to wish everyone partaking the best of luck and a great run.
For more information on the MPG Marathon, please visit www.thempgmarathon.co.uk or further information in the Dublin Marathon this weekend, please visit www.sseairtricitydublinmarathon.ie.
News
-
Honda Ireland is impacted by temporary challenges in the global supply chain,…
-
Pakman Award Finalists 2021
We are delighted to be nominated at the prestigious Pakman Awards for excellence… -
Honda e triumphs at 2021 World Car Awards
Honda e named World Urban Car of the Year in the prestigious 2021 World Car… -
All-New Jazz Hybrid wins Red Dot Car Design Award 2021
Honda's new hybrid-only Jazz has been awarded highly coveted Red Dot Awards… -
Honda e named 'City Car Of The Year' in the UKCOTY Awards 2021
The Honda e has claimed the City Car of the Year title in the 2021 UK Car of… -
Honda e adds AUTOBEST 'ECOBEST' Award to Growing Collection of International Accolades
Honda e wins ECOBEST category of the prestigious AUTOBEST awards Accolade recognises… -
New Honda Jazz e:HEV Scores Top Marks Under Tough New Euro NCAP Rating
Honda Jazz e:HEV achieves five star Euro NCAP rating New front centre airbag… -
Honda e becomes first Japanese Car to Win 'German Car of the Year'
Honda’s first battery electric vehicle for Europe, the Honda e, has been named… -
Honda E takes centre stage at prestigious Red Dot Design Museum
Award-winning Honda e inducted into world-renowned Red Dot Design Museum Design… -
Honda Brand Ambassador Katie Taylor surprises fan on FM104 Strawberry Alarm Clock
Speaking with FM104 Strawberry Alarm Clock , Katie Taylor surprised an unsuspecting… -
Verstappen Takes First Win of 2020 At The 70th Anniversary Grand Prix
Saturday’s qualifying session proved crucial, with Max getting through to Q3… -
Motorsport Fuels The Power of Dreams for Honda
After the 2020 Formula One season commenced with two exciting races in Austria,…