It’s a 100 miles per gallon automatic hybrid eco-car, yet it’s been banned from rallying for being too fast!
The world’s greenest rally car has been kicked out of its championship because it’s too fast. The petrol-electric Honda Insight hybrid, which competes in the Formula 1000 rally championship, has been asked to withdraw following concerns from rival competitors that it has an unfair advantage, after dominating the 2011 series with two wins and a second place from the first three rounds.
The car, which uses a tuned petrol-electric hybrid system to give it more power and better fuel efficiency, has been developed by the Oaktec team from Lancaster over a six-year period using the low emission Honda car as a base. The developments of the green technology have been so successful that the eco car, which can return over 100 mpg when driven slowly, has blown away a field of conventional rally cars to gain a 19 point championship lead after just three rallies.
The championship organisers phoned the Oaktec team to request that they stand down from the series and compete the car in a higher class to appease rival competitors. The team has agreed to the demand and will now look to race in other classes.
Oaktec boss Paul Andrews commented: “It was a bit of a shock when I got the call as after six years of hard work we finally had our chance for a bit of glory. But I fully understand the perspective of the organisers and their wish not to spoil the sport for the other drivers. Formula 1000 is a great championship and they were really supportive by allowing us to compete with these new hybrid technologies in their rallies and we always agreed that if we had a clear advantage we would step aside. It’s a shame it had to happen mid-season but it’s the risk you face in going against the grain and trying something radical. If it fails, no one notices; if it’s successful, you have an unfair advantage. I think our project has made people realise that there is a real future for genuinely green technologies in motorsport and other leisure activities.”
To prove the eco-credentials of the tuned Honda hybrid system, Oaktec entered the rally car in a fuel economy competition and returned 82 mpg, beating the next best car, a small diesel, by over 17 mpg. It has regularly returned over 100 mpg in testing and has ultra-low CO2 emissions, yet uses the same combination of efficient engine, batteries and electric motor to win rallies.
In addition the car is unique in motorsport because it uses a CVT automatic transmission developed by Bosch, who also sponsor the car.
Green-Car-Guide has supported the Oaktec team over the last six years; founder and editor Paul Clarke says: “The Honda Insight hybrid was such a strange sight on rallies when it first appeared, and teams with more conventional rally machinery didn’t take it seriously – understandably. Therefore it is all the more interesting to see that the car has now been developed into something that is so successful it has been banned. Today all new cars have to be more efficient, and it’s only a matter of time before motorsport will also have to go green; the Oaktec team has been demonstrating ‘eco-rallying’ for six years – it has been ahead of its time. Perhaps others in the rallying world will now give some thought to cars that are as efficient as possible, but also great to drive – in other words, what Green-Car-Guide is focused on.”
You can see the Oaktec Honda Insight hybrid in action, along with other banned Group B rally cars, at Green-Car-Guide Live! at the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, 15-17 July 2011, in Cheshire. For more information visit Green-Car-Guide.com or www.cpop.co.uk
Oaktec is a technology research and development company specialising in energy recovery systems and powertrain innovations for the low carbon vehicle sector. Oaktec is committed to developing and manufacturing new technologies in the UK.
Green-Car-Guide, launched in 2006, is the UK’s original green car news site. It provides information to consumers about the latest green cars in a quality, informed and engaging way, to help them save money on rising fuel prices and CO2 taxation. The site focuses on cars that are best in class in terms of emissions, fuel economy and efficiency, but that are also great to drive. The site includes our Green Car Guide, latest news, road tests, events and special features.
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