PRETORIA, South Africa— Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa has walked away from the annually held TOTAL Economy Run with three class victories. Held in the Free State area from 29 and 30 July, a formidable line-up of experienced drivers and navigators the team was able to get the best out of the vehicles claiming two class wins under the Ford banner, and one class win for Mazda.

The TOTAL Economy run remains the only local credible test for comparing fuel efficiency of all makes and models of cars over the same route, distance and under the same set of regulations. Vehicles are driven within the rules of the road and applicable speed limits with marshals stationed at different spots along the route. Penalties are given to vehicles that arrive later than the stipulated competition time, meaning they have been driving too slowly.

"The TOTAL Economy Run is significant on the calendar for most motor manufacturers in South Africa as entrants are able to showcase the potential fuel efficiency of various vehicles. The idea is to achieve the best possible fuel consumption relative to other comparable makes and models." says Ben Pillay, Ford Marketing Manager.

Harry Young and Manfred Hertz used just 5.45l/100km in their Mazda2 1.3 Active sedan to take the victory in class B, while Ford S2000 rally driver Charl Wilken and his navigator Greg Godrich took the Class C victory in their Ford Fiesta 1.6 Sport using just 5.81l/100km. Ford and Mazda dominated Class C (for cars 1400cc up to and including 1600cc) locking out the top four positions in the class.

The All-new Ford Focus made its Economy Run debut with a class victory. Gordon Noble and Graham Bate drove the all-new Focus 2.0 GDi Trend PowerShift Auto to victory in Class E ahead of Michael Henshaw and Andre Smit in an all-new Focus 2.0 GDi Sport. Noble, who used just 6.45l/100km, has an illustrious history in the TOTAL Economy Run having participated in the event for the past 29 years, the last four of which he has driven with Ford.

“The new Focus 2.0 GDi Trend PowerShift Auto is absolutely phenomenal” said Noble after the event. "The motor now produces 125kW, so you can drive it in 6th gear up almost any incline down to 65km/h and the car just pulls perfectly, giving excellent economy at the same time.”

Driving in a Ford Fiesta 1.6 Trend PowerShift Auto, Philip Martin and co-driver Dave Watt won a prize for the best placed petrol automatic gearbox, achieving a total consumption figure of 5.99l/100km.

Novice drivers and Facebook fans Crystle-Lynne Moore and her brother Bryce Moore, came in at third position in the Diesel Class J category (for cars 1400cc) in their Figo 1.4 TDCi Ambiente with a fuel consumption of 5.19l/100km.

Ford and Mazda dealer Lazarus Motor Company won a prize for the best overall dealer in the competition. This prize was awarded to the dealer entrant that achieved the lowest fuel consumption achieved in a petrol model.

“We would like to extend our thanks to Lazarus Motor Company, with whom we have a long standing relationship," says Pillay. "Once again the team has proved our efforts to build fuel efficient vehicles, without compromising on performance. Congratulations to the team for once again managing to bring home the silverware,” Pillay concluded.

Final figures (excluding penalties received):

• Ford Figo 1.4 TDCi Ambiente                        4.56l/100km

• Ford Figo 1.4 Trend                                   6.49l/100km

• Ford Fiesta 1.6 Sport                                 5.81l/100km

• Ford Fiesta 1.6 Trend PowerShift Auto          5.99l/100km

• Ford Focus 1.6 Trend                                 6.08l/100km

• Ford Focus 2.0 GDi Trend PowerShift Auto     6.36l/100km

• Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Trend PowerShift Auto   5.23l/100km

• Ford Focus 2.0 GDi Sport                            6.47l/100km

• Mazda2 1.3 Active                                    5.36l/100km

• Mazda2 1.5 Individual                                5.96l/100km

• Mazda5 2.0 Original                                   7.09l/100km

Crystle-Lynne Moore and her brother Bryce Moore in their Figo TDCi	Gordon Noble and Graham Bate with their Focus 2.0 GDi PowerShift	Focus 2.0 GDi PowerShift debuted with a class victory.