There’s just days to go until this year’s Fleet World/ALD Automotive MPG Marathon eco-driving event gets underway, once more highlighting the benefits of fuel-efficient, economical driving.

This year’s MPG Marathon will recognise the best-performing hybrid and electric entrants as well as diesel and petrol models.

Taking place from 3-4 October and based at the Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel & Country Club, the event will challenge competitors to achieve the best overall fuel consumption and highest percentage improvements compared to official figures.

For the first time, these will award separate titles to the best-performing petrol and diesel vehicles, as well as hybrid and electric models.

Fleet tracking specialist Crystal Ball will once more provide live tracking data, via its FleetTracker solution, which will enable analysis of the routes taken and the methods used by drivers to minimise fuel consumption on the two-day event.

Last winners included Ford’s Mustang muscle car, which achieved an overall MPG figure of 36.6mpg against a manufacturer’s combined figure of 20.9mpg; an astonishing 75.12% improvement.

Meanwhile the best overall MPG figure from a conventional internal combustion engine car was 88.87mpg, achieved by John Kerswill and Ian McKean in a Mazda 2 1.6d Sports Nav; an improvement of 5.77mpg over the manufacturer’s claimed figure.

Last year also saw a pre-production Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid achieve an impressive 109.14mpg over the 387-mile route, which equated at the time to just £14.63 worth of fuel to drive a route equivalent to the distance between London and Glasgow by road.

To find out more about this year’s MPG Marathon and follow competitors’ progress live when the event opens next Tuesday, visit www.thempgmarathon.co.uk.