Bridgestone Announces Sponsorship of 2010 Eco Rally

Bridgestone has announced that it will sponsor a rally of low and zero emission vehicles: the 2010 Brighton to London Eco-Rally. The company says it will bring along well-known Formula One names on Wednesday 7 July, when the convoy of vehicles will travel the famous Veteran Car Run in reverse, driving from Brighton’s seafront to London’s Hyde Park. At the park, the rally will join a green transport exhibition, free to attend, at the Royal Albert Memorial.

Andy Dingley from Bridgestone said; “Bridgestone is delighted to be involved with this year’s Eco-Rally. It is a fantastic event which showcases the vehicles of the future and really shows off the versatility of the different, environmentally-friendly fuels out there.

“Climate change is not something any of us should take lightly. Bridgestone is committed to reducing the impact of motoring on the environment through the Make Cars Green initiative and to helping ensure a healthy environment for current and future generations. The Bridgestone Eco-Rally fits perfectly with our policies and ideals.”

Launched in 2007 by HRH Prince of Wales, the Eco-Rally event has had support from the worlds of politics, entertainment, sport and the arts, such as Boris Johnson, Quentin Willson, Zac Goldsmith, Robert Llewellyn, Lisa Rogers, The One Show’s Lucy Siegle, The Chop Shop’s Bernie and Leepu and legendary racing drivers Sir Stirling Moss and John Surtees, amongst others.

The event is organised by Revolve, an organisation committed to accelerating the market for zero emission transport. Steven Glaser from Revolve said; “For the past three years, the Eco-Rally has received lots of attention from the media and well-known supporters and partners. To have a major sponsor such as Bridgestone on-board with their F1 contacts adds a new twist to what is already a unique and innovative event.

“It really shows the British public that industry is developing green alternatives to conventional transport and we are confident that the new breed of eco vehicles can live up to the expectations of the F1 drivers.” Some of the previous participants include the Tesla electric sports car, the electric MINI, Mitsubishi iMiEV, bio-fuelled sports cars from Lotus, BMW Hydrogen 7 limousines, and fuel-cell powered prototypes from the likes of Ford, GM and Nissan. Mainstream hybrids and F1 KERS style technology from the likes of Honda, Lexus and Toyota.

This year’s Bridgestone Eco-Rally will showcase the very latest concepts and low emission technology for the masses, highlighting vehicles eligible for the Government’s forthcoming plug-in car grant.