The Slowest Race in Town Visits Michelin

Michelin invited participants in this year’s MPG Marathon to “Fill up With Air” at a specially prepared pit-stop at the company’s Campbell Road UK headquarters. This year 39 cars and 9 vans are taking part in what must be the only race where going slow helps you win. The two-day event sees the whole spectrum of car and light commercial vehicles follow a 411 mile course with one simple object – use as little fuel as possible.

Drivers come from a range of backgrounds including: fleet companies, the motor industry and the media. According to company representatives, roughly a third of cars were sporting Michelin tyres a fact that the company hopes will help communicate the message that good tyres and the right tyre pressures have a great impact on fuel economy.

To this end Team Michelin has entered two cars of its own into the competition. Tyres & Accessories witnessed the arrival, second from last, of the company’s Peugeot 308 entrant. Fitted with 195/65 R15 Michelin Energy Saver tyres, the team Michelin car was said to be doing well. The results won’t be released until tomorrow, however, Michelin’s Pegeot 308 was achieving fuel consumption of roughly 78 miles-per-gallon when it reached Stoke (12 mpg better than what the car’s handbook quotes for a combined cycle).

At the other end of the spectrum, the Corvette Z06 Coupe T&A saw roll into the Campbell Road car park was hypermiling its way to a normal level of fuel consumption. With a handbook mpg of 19.2 miles per gallon, the drivers of this 7-litres 505 BHP V8 managed to squeeze 26.9 mpg at the Stoke pit-stop.

Michelin also unveiled its new “Fill Up With Air” van, which has been purchased in preparation for the company’s 2009 pressure-check campaign.