Tour promotes eco-driving

Publication date: 20 October 2008

The Tour involved 42 teams competing with each other through nine European countries (Spain, France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium and The Netherlands) for seven days to become the EcoTour Champion 2008.

There were three categories of car (small, small family and family) with both petrol and diesel variations, and eight stages of up to 400km each. At the end of each day the competitors would refuel the cars revealing who had consumed the least petrol.

Each refueling was monitored by a scrutineering team composed of FIA and club officials. "Refuelling 42 cars at a different gas station every evening in a short time span with different persons was quite a challenge, but in the end we managed," said Wilfried Klanner, FIA European Bureau Technical Director.

The competition culminated every evening with the road show, attracting club members, the general public, VIPs and the media. The road show demonstrated the benefits of EcoDriving with a simulator that allowed people to have hands-on experience, as well as informing people on other ways of promoting greener motoring through the advice of the Make Cars Green campaign.

Amongst the supporters of the tour was former rally champion Ari Vatanen who acted as a patron of the EcoTour 2008, "Eco-driving is important because it makes sense; you can do something for free and still save money", said Ari Vatanen, who is now a Member of the European Parliament. He added: "The EcoTour 2008 is a realistic and a positive event. It makes people pay attention to their driving".

The six overall winners were:

CARS
Category Winner Fuel consumption (l/100 km)
Small petrol Daihatsu Cuore 1,0 4,53
Small diesel Seat Ibiza 1,4 Ecomotive 3,80
Small family petrol Toyota Prius 1,5 4,57
Small family diesel Audi A3 1,9 4,01
Family petrol Volkswagen Passat 1,4 5,93
Family diesel Volkswagen Passat 1,9 BlueMotion 3,93

PARTICIPANTS
Small petrol Mr. Wouters & Mr. Utermöhlen The Netherlands
Small diesel Mr. van Heijningen & Mrs. van Heijningen-de Kok The Netherlands
Small family petrol Mr. Cleykens & Mr. Marten Belgium
Small family diesel Mr. Stalder & Mr. Isenschmid Switzerland
Family petrol Mr. De Jeu & Mr. Span The Netherlands
Family diesel Mr. Jodocy & Mr. Pautsch Luxembourg