Fuel saving win for Gugu
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Having been approached by Renault SA to participate in the Total Economy Run for 2004, I was not sure what to expect, but eagerly anticipated this new form of competition.
I campaigned Renaults’ Megane 1.6 Petrol driven machine in class H for business vehicles. My navigator was highly experienced Ivor Wiid who has participated in over 14 events to date. Ivor participated in the first eight events of the Total Economy Run and was glad to share the “mathematical” seat for me in this year’s event.
The event took place around the Mpumalanga province and provided the ideal backdrop with continuous undulations and mountain passes. One might think that competing in the Economy Run is boring but I was pleasantly surprised at the level of concentration that one requires for such an event. Not only do you have set times for a stage, but you got to do it using the least amount of petrol. The course was made all the more interesting with many “mobile chicanes” in the form of tourist buses, taxis and holiday makers enjoying the same route.
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Gugulethu Zulu and Ivor Wiid in the fuel efficiency index winning Renault Megane
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At one point I found myself averaging 80km/h only to be met by a convoy of holiday makers. The time we lost in overtaking them meant that we would have to average over 150km/h in order to get to the control point in time and avoid being docked a litre of fuel in penalties and to spice things up, the organisers set up surprise control points which caught out those sleeping and taking it easy up the mountain passes. The local traffic department did not help things either as they set numerous road blocks along the route.
After many hundreds of kilometres and listening to instructions and driving at a snails pace, we completed the route and finished 2nd in class H and won the Overall Index of Performance.
I wish to thank Renault South Africa for the great opportunity.
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