LONDON TO SYDNEY ON A GALLON OF PETROL UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL LANCASHIRE UNIVERSITYS FINEST YOUNG MINDS COMPETE TO DESIGN WORLDS MOST FUEL EFFICIENT CAR Imagine being able to drive from Lands End to John OGroats on the equivalent of just a Coke can full of fuel. Aspiring, young engineers from the University of Central Lancashire in Preston have built cars capable of doing exactly that and they are travelling to Germany on 6th May to compete with teams from across the globe for the for the title of the worlds most fuel efficient vehicle. Three teams - engineers from Central Lancashire, Aston, Coventry and Universities - are participating in the Shell Eco-marathon Europe in Lausitz, a competition which challenges entrants to build a vehicle which can travel the furthest on a single litre of fuel. This is a race with a difference; the fastest team doesnt come first. Over 200 teams, comprising 3,000 students from over 24 countries, are taking part. Each will be hoping to break the current fuel efficiency record of 2,384 miles (3,836 kilometres) on just one litre of fuel set by a Swiss team in 2005, an achievement which made the Swiss vehicle 263 times more efficient that a Toyota Prius. This feat is the equivalent of getting over 10,600 miles per gallon, enough to take you from London to Sydney on a gallon of petrol. The competition is specifically designed to inspire and foster future scientific and engineering talent as well as encourage the development of innovative solutions to increase fuel efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of the cars we drive. Set against a backdrop of rising fuel prices, this years competition will have particular resonance. James Smith, Chairman, Shell UK, said: There is a crucial need for more efficient use of energy in transport and this competition shines a spotlight on that need. Innovation is key and these students show us a glimpse of what might be possible. Competitors represent some of the continents brightest engineering talent and are drawn from automotive engineering courses in Europes top universities. Teams have spent the last year designing and building the most aerodynamically streamlined and fuel efficient vehicle possible, many of which hardly resemble traditional cars at all. Each team will race 15.5 miles around the track in Lausitz to allow experts to compare each vehicles fuel consumption and calculate the distance each vehicle would be able to travel on just one litre of fuel. Will Erskine, team leader for the University of Central Lancashire team, says: Were really excited about taking part in this years Shell Eco-marathon. The race is the culmination of 3 years of studying motorsports engineering at UCLAN and were determined to do ourselves and the university justice. It has been a challenge but were nearly there; the car has come together really well. We cant wait to get out onto the track. John Fu, driver for the University of Central Lancashire team, adds: Id love to work in motor racing in the future, so Ive really enjoyed working on the UCLAN entry to this years Shell Eco-marathon. Many of the principles used in the car are the same as the ones they use in professional motor racing so its been really exciting learning about them and putting them into practice. There are two race categories: the Prototypes category, where the design considerations focus around reducing drag and maximising efficiency; and the Urban Concept category, where more identifiable road cars are designed for more everyday use. Both categories embrace a wide variety of fuel types, from fuels such as diesel and petrol to alternative fuels like ethanol, gas-to-liquid (GTL), hydrogen, solar energy, and bio-fuels. As long as teams adhere to safety rules, vehicle design is limited only by students imagination.