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Economy and performance are words that seldom go together. But in the UK a car that easily achieves 2.8litres/100km (100mpg), has just been banned from rallying because it's too fast.
The cigar-shaped petrol-electric Honda Civic Insight hybrid competes in the Formula 1000 rally championship, and has been asked to withdraw when rivals complained after it took two wins and a second place from the first three rounds of the 2011 championship. They said it had unfair advantage.
However, the car, developed by the Lancaster-based Oaktec team, is no ordinary Insight. It has been developed over a six-year period, and in 2006 it took five Class-A victories in Formula 1000 and won the championship.
What's more, it car uses CVT, which the firm found gave the best method of power delivery with a hybrid drivetrain.
After a chat with the UK motorsport folk, Oaktec boss Paul Andrews commented:
"It was a bit of a shock when I got the call. After six years of hard work we finally had our chance for a bit of glory. But I fully understand the perspective of the organisers and their wish not to spoil the sport for the other drivers."
So the world's greenest rally car might soon run in another category.
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