Mobil to host fuel efficiency challenge for McLaren-Honda F1 team truck drivers

By Tim Campbell

14 May 2015

ExxonMobil and McLaren-Honda have teamed up to host a driver-efficiency challenge to reward safe and fuel-efficient driving.

The contest will see the team’s 17 truck drivers going toe-to-toe as they compete for maximum points, spanning seven races.

The contest, which is entering its third year and includes races in Spain, Monaco, Austria, the UK, Hungary, Belgium and Italy, will be invigorated with the addition of an additional criterion: braking as a percentage of the journey distance.

The skills and efficiency challenge is open to all commercial vehicle drivers that support the McLaren-Honda team during the 2015 season, carrying the team’s race cars, kit, equipment and hospitality.

Efficiency is a key focus of the team, which maintains the trucks’ engines and drivetrains with Mobil-branded synthetic lubricants. ExxonMobil’s Mobil Delvac 1 LE 5W-30 and Mobilube 1 SHC™ 75W-90 lubricants play a decisive role in the efficiency challenge, with UK-based tests having proven the flagship commercial vehicle lubricants to offer up to 2.9 percent fuel efficiency.

Following the Grand Prix scoring system (e.g. 25 points for first place), the challenge includes the awarding of points after each race weekend, with each driver monitored individually against the following criteria:

Pedal movement – levels of throttle pressure
Engine operation – measurement of optimum engine usage (not highest gear)
Idle consumption – degree of idle consumption
Coasting – level of vehicle coasting
Deceleration grade – braking as a percentage of the journey distance.

The prizes will include shopping vouchers and an engraved trophy to be awarded to the winner at a special dinner. There will also be runner-up prizes to recognize outstanding effort.

Eric Boullier, racing director for McLaren-Honda, said: “Formula 1 is a contest that hinges not just on raw power and speed, but also efficiency. We compete to cover the distance in the shortest possible time and the most aerodynamic car with the most efficient engine has the best chance of getting there first. Efficiency is part of McLaren’s DNA and ExxonMobil has consistently innovated to help us do more with less.”

Maciej Marcinowski, commercial vehicle lubricants marketing advisor - Europe, Africa and Middle East, ExxonMobil, said: “The Mobil Delvac 1 Driver Efficiency Challenge continues to evolve and has become more and more competitive each year. We are looking forward to seeing how the fleet drivers perform this season.”