In amongst the raft of Imprezas and Evos on British Rally stages, one car in particular stands out as being different from the rest.
Competing in the Formula 1000 Championship, the Oaktec Honda Insight is a competition car like no other, combining a hybrid power system with bio-ethanol fuel that meant that the car recorded the lowest emissions reading ever recorded at a local MOT service centre.
However, the car has proven to be far from just a gimmick, and won its class in the 2006 championship despite not competing on all rounds held during the year.
Crash.net caught up with Paul Andrews, who drives the car, to try and find out more…
Q:
Paul, the whole idea behind this project is related to energy efficient motorsport, but why did you elect to use a hybrid car and not just use one powered on bio-ethanol as we have seen in something like the BTCC?
Paul Andrews:
That’s an interesting question. First of all, the Formula 1000 Rally Championship actually welcomed this car because it was green, it was new and it was different. They saw the media potential in it. Also, me as a competitor - having looked at the cars competing in Formula 1000 - looked at the Honda Insight and realised that it was more powerful that any car running in the championship, having an aluminium body means it is lightweight and being a bit of an eccentric, I like a different and diverse project.
