Ben Collins, the former Stig who starred in the BBC’s Top Gear programme, has urged Irish drivers to take their foot off the gas and save money.
Collins was speaking after shooting a short film aimed at encouraging more fuel efficient driving on behalf of Topaz and Mazda.
The racing driver who filled the role of Stig on Top Gear for 7 years and has driven countless high performance cars, some at speeds in excess of 400 Km/h, said he would be adopting many of the efficient driving tips he had picked up during filming, in his everyday driving.
For the test Collins first drove ‘normally’ (ok, maybe ‘extreme’ is nearer to the mark) using a standard fuel. He then drove efficiently using Topaz fuel, using 62.5% less fuel on this run where he employed efficient driving techniques.
‘What we do on the racing track and what we do on the way to work or the school run every day are two very different things. Nicola Hudson from the AA was my efficient driving partner for this film and she made sure I eased off the accelerator. It really was an interesting exercise and the savings achieved speak for themselves. So if you want to save money fill up with Topaz fuel, adopt the driving tips and drive a fuel efficient car’ Collins said.
Topaz Director Paul Candon said the figures achieved during filming show that efficient driving is the way to go and that its clear Topaz fuels take you that bit further and save you money. ‘If drivers use Topaz fuels regularly and follow the driving efficiency tips, they will save money. It really was eye opening to see the figures Ben achieved and the potential savings which we could all make on an annual basis are considerable’ Candon said.
Topaz fuels have a special additive which contains a highly effective detergent which cleans the fuel injection system and keeps it clean through regular use. This gives Topaz users improved fuel economy, up to 3% more or 24 kilometers per tank.
The car used in the test was the stylish Mazda2. “The compact and sporty Mazda2 is engineered to deliver excellent fuel economy, low C02 emissions whilst being great fun to drive. The secret to its brilliant fuel economy is the lightweight construction, being at least 100kg lighter than its predecessor. This is a reflection of the focus at Mazda on offering cars that have less impact on the environment. As a result it delivers low-cost motoring with excellent fuel economy figures of just 5.2L/100km”, commented David McGonigle, MD Mazda Motors Ireland.
The film featuring Ben and Nicola will be posted on the Topaz and Mazda websites in a matter of weeks. For more information on efficient driving go to www.topaz.ie or www.mazda.ie
For further Information contact;
Kieran Garry Gordon MRM at 01 – 6650455 or 087 – 2368366.
Note to Editor
FUEL EFFICIENT DRIVING TIPS
- Ensure your vehicle is serviced regularly and tyres are inflated to correct pressure.
- Plan journey in advance and remove unnecessary weight from the your car (golf clubs, roof racks etc) and keep windows closed.
- Change up early through the gears. Shift up at around 2,000 rpms for a diesel car and 2,500 rpms for a petrol car (depending on vehicle)
- Ensure you adopt a smooth style of driving – ease into acceleration
- Avoid tailgating. Keep your distance between vehicles to ensure you brake smoothly
- Reduce your speed, driving at or within speed limits. Driving at 110 KPH uses 15% more fuel than at 80 KPH.
- Use cruise control for motorway driving to maintain a constant speed, as it can prove 7% average fuel savings
- If you have stopped for more than 40 seconds, save fuel by switching off the engine
- Use the air conditioning sparingly as it can reduce fuel consumption by as much as 20%.