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11^th July 2006 (Source: EEMS )

A modified Caterham sports car will take to the tracks at Rockingham this Wednesday and Thursday 12 and 13 July 2006, with support from the Energy-Efficient Motorsport (EEMS) initiative of Motorsport Development UK. The Caterham is modified by Axon Automotive, a specialist company based at Cranfield, Bedfordshire. The Axon team aims to beat last year’s record for a conventional road car and achieve above 100 mpg. The Eco-Challenge is to set the highest fuel economy after 40 minutes driving 7 laps of the stadium at a minimum speed of 15mph.

The Caterham 2R (Research Record breaker) is based on a standard 1600cc Caterham 7 road car and has been modified with lightweight seating, bodywork changes to improve the aerodynamics and narrow low rolling resistance tyres. The team also has a careful race plan for their four practice runs and then six timed runs over the Challenge's two days.

‘We are showing that careful driving and relatively simple modifications to conventional cars can lead to significant fuel savings,’ explains project leader Steve Cousins. ‘We hope that competition at the Eco Marathon can drive up fuel economy in road cars too.’ The Caterham could be driven to and from the event as it is the only car entering which is road-legal.

'Over last year, we've moved the project to Axon Automotive, a spin-out from Cranfield University. Axon is an innovative car company manufacturing vehicle bodies in carbon fibre. This technology could allow car bodies to become much lighter, which in turn enables a smaller and more economical engine to give the same performance.’

Notes For Editors

Energy Efficient Motorsport (EEMS) is sponsored by Motorsport Development UK. EEMS seeks to encourage the development of alternative fuels and powertrain technologies and put energy efficiency at the heart of modern motorsport – without comprising the sporting spectacle. There is a widely held belief that energy efficiency and green technology are not compatible with exciting motorsport. This is simply not the case – in fact the UK motorsport industry stands to benefit by adopting EEMS concepts and taking a leading global role. EEMS is also supporting an E85 bio-fuelled Astra in the British Touring Car Championship and a Honda Insight hybrid in the 1000cc National Rally Championship.

For more information:

Visit https://eemsonline.co.uk

or contact:

Janice Minton, EEMS Press Office
Tel:
Mobile:
Fax:
Email:

Motorsport Development UK is a partnership of public and private sector organisations leading a five-year investment programme to sustain and develop UK motorsport. Its backers include the four regional development agencies at the heart of Motorsport Valley - Advantage West Midlands, East of England Development Agency, East Midlands Development Agency and South East England Development Agency - together with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

The overall objective of Motorsport Development UK is business and economic development for the motor sport sector. The programme stimulates action in several key areas, by working with and part-funding programmes delivered by motorsport stakeholders. Examples include Energy Efficient Motorsport, support for the training of volunteer officials, programmes aimed at widening participation in the sport and a ‘Learning Grid’ of education initiatives.

For more information:

Visit:http://www.motorsportdevelopment.co.uk/

For media information, please contact:

Mike Stainton or Patrick Peal
,
Band & Brown Communications
+44 (0)1603 417722

The Shell Eco-Marathon UK is an annual fuel economy competition organised by Shell Global Solutions. 50 cars are taking part this year. Competitors range from students aged 11 to senior university academics and semi-professional independent teams. Competitors construct a vehicle that meets the required safety aspects and run it around a circuit using as little fuel as possible. The best designs consider aspects of aerodynamics, rolling resistance, engine efficiency and driving techniques to achieve the highest fuel economy. Each year the teams demonstrate creativity and innovation to make the leap required to improve their performance.

The current overall record with a specially built vehicle is 10,227 miles per gallon which is the equivalent of driving from Britain to Australian on one gallon of petrol. Vehicles compete on a course of approximately ten miles at a minimum average speed of 15mph. Drivers must be at least 11 years old. The vehicle must have 3 or 4 wheels and meet precise regulations about wheelbase, track size, braking, steering and safety. Fuel must be petrol, LPG, diesel or hydrogen with no additives.

For further information:

Celine Paillart
Shell Eco-Marathon UK Press Office
Tel: +44 (0)1483 441028
Mobile: +44 (0)7787 152546
Email:

or

Francesca Secchi
PRISM
Tel: +44 (0)1483 441019
Mobile: +44 (0)7766 443 446

For more information on Axon Automotive, contact:

Dr Steve Cousins
Tel: +44 (0)1234 758050
Email:

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