New Target:
Around the World in Under 35 Fill Ups-
Beating all goals after 20,450kms/12,700miles
Record breaking couple John and Helen Taylor continue to break all expectations in their attempt to drive around the
world in the new target of less than 35 fill ups.
John and Helen Taylor have just embarked on the US leg of their epic round the world driving challenge, and have made
extraordinary progress. After arriving in Auckland, New Zealand, they’ve used just 935 litres/ 247 gallons of fuel and
travelled 20,450 kms/ 12,700 miles. That’s an average of 21.9 km per litre/ 51.4 miles per gallon. With 7,000 kms/
4350miles of motoring to come across America, the possibility is that they could make it in 35 fill ups or less of the
standard vehicle’s 55 litre/ 14.5 gallon tank. The manufacturer’s official consumption figure is 14.3 kms per litre/
33.6 miles per gallon which they’re breaking by over 50%.
What is all the more remarkable is that they’ve achieved these figures while driving through some extreme weather
conditions. In Australia, they’ve endured temperatures of 46 degrees while driving through the outback, as well as
experiencing flash floods, being hit by freak winds, and even driven through wind storms. And after the flat plains of
Australia came the mountainous fuel-consuming roads of New Zealand. Yet they have come through it unscathed, and still
pushing all expectations of the fuel’s efficiency.
On January 17th, John and Helen, with a five-strong support crew, set out from London to circumnavigate the globe to set
a new record in the Shell Fuel Economy World Record Challenge. For the trip to qualify as an official ‘Round the World’
record, they are required to cover 28,970 kms/ 18,001 miles in total. The aim was to use less than 50 tanks of Shell
fuel, but as they have achieved extraordinary fuel efficiency performance, the target went down to 40 tanks or less and,
now, been lowered again to 35 tanks or less due to their phenomenal performance. “We’re over a third of the way now. I’m
confident that our ‘around the world in 50 tanks’ tag could now be beaten. With things going the way they are, we could
be talking about fewer than 35. But let’s not count chickens!” says John.
The Taylors approached Shell to back the mission. For the company, it offered a golden opportunity to undertake the
ultimate road test of a new fuel formula, which has been specifically designed to deliver greater fuel efficiency. It is
also an opportunity to demonstrate the company’s FuelStretch economy-driving tips which they are now promoting really do
work for drivers in ordinary cars.
But for now, the Taylors are focused on the American leg of their great adventure.
They’ll follow a route, which will take them through Los Angeles, the desert landscape of Arizona, and the Windy City of
Chicago, and then up into Canada, before finally flying out from New York City. On 27 Mar, they will start into the home
straight which takes them from Portugal, into Spain, and back through France. Finally, Team Taylor will enter the UK
again and once back, will conclude their journey in Central London.
To view day by day images from the journey and keep abreast of the Taylor’s adventure visit: www.fuelchallenge.com
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to win 2,500 litres of Shell fuel by playing “Guess the Gauge” on the website. See
website for terms and conditions and country eligibility varies according to local promotion law.
* gallon stated in here is based on US measurement
ENDS