“This is a ‘journey’ record, which means that we use public roads, we have to adhere to normal speed limits and we can’t go over the same road twice, so effectively we do one very large loop, as best we can.”
That last requirement presented a significant obstacle, as not only did it become increasingly difficult to avoid previously used roads while remaining on the flat ground needed to maximise range, but it also meant that any late changes to the route could have quashed the team’s chances of setting a record.
“We did have one particular jeopardy when we got to Melton Mowbray at the very tail end of the run and it turned out there was a cycle race on the next day, so a load of the roads were closed. Every time we tried to change direction, we found another road closure and another road closure…” said Clarke. Fortunately, some quick thinking from the navigator got the team back on a diversion route without having too drastic an impact on remaining range.
Clarke said the journey record is more relevant than the outright range record because “it’s the closest thing to the real world, on proper roads at proper speeds”.
He added: “We’re not suggesting for a second that everybody can achieve the same ranges that we did, but we did exceed the WLTP figures by some margin, so it just shows what’s possible. Driving a little bit more efficiently – which ultimately equates to just moving your right foot a few less millimetres each time – can actually generate significant amounts of range”.
