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New Zealand truck driver wins Volvo Fuelwatch Challenge

Louise Marriott beats 16 other competitors to take out the prize as most fuel efficient driver.

 

Louise Marriott has taken out the Volvo Trucks Asia Pacific Fuelwatch Challenge for 2015, marking the first time a female driver and a New Zealander has won the prize.

Marriott beat 16 other competitors on the way to being crowned the most fuel efficient driver in the on-road category in the Asia Pacific region.

The challenge, which was held in the Thai city of Hua Hin, saw Ravi Poleboina from India take out the prize for most fuel efficient driver in the off-road segment.

Participants had to complete a series of driving challenges to determine who was the most fuel efficient.

“I’m absolutely pleased to be this year’s most fuel efficient driver and to be the first contestant to bring the trophy home to New Zealand,” Marriott says.

“While our industry is often thought of as being male dominated, the Fuelwatch Challenge has been a great platform for us to show that all drivers, regardless of gender, can perform at the highest level while being fuel efficient. I look forward to sharing the experience at Fuelwatch with my colleagues back home.”

Marriott’s truck used 17.5 per cent less fuel compared to the highest amount of fuel burnt at the event.

In the off-road category, Poleboina achieved 12.5 per cent less fuel consumption relative to fellow contestants.

“I am delighted and proud to witness history made at this year’s Asia Pacific Fuelwatch Challenge 2015, with the first female driver joining the ranks of past Fuelwatch winners,” Volvo Trucks Asia Oceania president Christophe Martin says.

“Louise’s achievements will no doubt encourage aspiring female drivers, which will benefit the industry as a whole.”

The two-day event consisted of a one-day training session on fuel efficient driving and then the driving challenge.

The 17 contestants included four women, which Volvo says represents the expanding number of female drivers within the Fuelwatch community and the industry-at-large.

“Since our inaugural event in 2007, the more than 15,000 participants of the Fuelwatch Challenge have become ambassadors of the Fuelwatch community, sharing the skills and technical knowledge that they have picked up at the event to catalyse our goal of a fuel-efficient industry,” Martin says.

“Together with them, we look forward to championing the Fuelwatch mission for the industry and the society.”

 

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