First RAC Brighton to London Future Car Challenge a great success!

The entrants started in the morning from Madeira Drive, Brighton, in the presence of Richard Farleigh, former Dragons' Den panelist. Many of those who take part are well-known motoring celebrities – such as Quentin Willson (TV presenter), Nick Mason (Pink Floyd Drummer and avid car collector), Don Wales (UK Electric Land Speed Record holder) and Paddy Hopkirk and David Richards (rally drivers).

There was a halfway halt at Crawley before entrants began arriving at the finish in Pall Mall from just after 11.00am. They then moved on to the special ceremonial finish in Regent Street where they joined a display of more than 100 pre-1905 motor cars in the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run International Concours in front of an estimated 250,000 audience.

This inaugural Royal Automobile Club event was organised to be a very public showcase for low-energy vehicles and attracted support from large and small manufacturers from around the globe.

The event was staged, promoted and judged in three categories – Electric, Hybrid and Internal Combustion Engine. Within each category, entries were measured in various modes for the energy used during the drive from Madeira Drive, Brighton, to Pall Mall, London. The challenge was to complete the journey with the least energy impact. Aspen and EcoPar was the official fuel for the event due to being the cleanest and petrol and diesel available.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony in Regent Street, Ben Cussons, Chairman of The Royal Automobile Club Motoring Committee, said: "This has been a magnificent first event and was easily the largest of its kind to be held on British roads. I want to thank all the drivers and entrants and the many companies who put so much effort into making it a success. The media has also done excellent job in bringing the event, and the future of motoring, to the attention of the widest possible audience."

Overall winner, Jim Holder of What Car? magazine, driving a Volkswagen Golf blue-e-motion, said: "It's been a fantastic event. Volkswagen UK is delighted and a little surprised to have won overall, as am I. This car does not go into production for another two years so it was wonderful to win on its UK debut. I think the whole event shows just what the motoring industry can achieve."

Edd China, who received the Most Economic & Environment Friendly Sports HEV award driving a Honda CR-Z, said: "It was good fun taking part in this first RAC Brighton to London Future Car Challenge which successfully highlighted the existence of new environmentally friendly technology. I believe it will also have reassured people that new, alternative energies really are viable options for motorists and that the future is now."

RAC Brighton to London Future Car Challenge Trophies:

A1 – Most Economic Small Passenger EV – TATA Motors Ltd, TATA Indica Vista Electric (Simon Clarke)

A2 – Most Economical & Environment Friendly Small Passenger EV – TATA Motors Ltd, TATA Indica Vista Electric (Simon Clarke)

C1 – Most Economical Small Passenger ICEV – Gordon Murray Designs Ltd, T.25 City Car (Gordon Murray)

C2 – Most Economical & Environment Friendly Small Passenger ICEV – Gordon Murray Designs Ltd, T.25 City Car (Gordon Murray)

D2 – Most Economic & Environment Friendly Regular Passenger EV – Volkswagen Golf blue-e-motion Electric (Jim Holder)

E2 – Most Economic & Environment Friendly Regular Passenger HEV  - Toyota Auris Hybrid (Matt Sanger)

F2 – Most Economic & Environment Friendly Regular Passenger ICEV – BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics Diesel (David Ward)

K2 – Most Economic & Environment Friendly Sports EV – Lotus Elise S1 Electric (Russ Sciville)

L2 – Most Economic & Environment Friendly Sports HEV – Honda UK - Honda CR-Z Hybrid (Edd China/Dan Roberts)

N2 – Most Economic & Environment Friendly Multi-Purpose Electric vehicle – Zytek Mercedes-Benz Vito Taxi Electric (Neil Heslington)

R – Most Economic Light Commercial EV – Nicholson McLaren Citroen Nemo Van Electric (Neil McIntree)

T – Most Economic Light Commercial ICEV – Ford Fiesta Van 1.6TDCi ECOnetic Diesel (Jay Nagley)

Best E-Rev Entry – Proton Exora Extended Range EV (Steve Riches)

Best Fuel-Cell Category – Mercedes-Benz B-Class, F-Cell Hydrogen (Wilfred Stephen)

The Public Choice – Vauxhall Ampera Extended Range EV – (Andres Duerden)

Best Overall Private Entry As Chosen By The Event Judges – Lotus Elise S1 Electric (Russ Sciville)

Best Overall Entry As Chosen By The Event Judges – Volkswagen Golf blue-e-motion Electric (Jim Holder)