Peugeot has announced the winner of its How Low Can You Go competition. Celebrating yet another Guinness World Record for lowest fuel consumption, Peugeot ran an eleven-week competition searching for the most fuel-efficient driver in Ireland and hundreds of entries were submitted. The first prize of €3,000 was presented to Mr Oliver Thompson, Galway, who recorded the best fuel consumption figure at the grand final at Mondello Park on Wednesday 9th December.

To take part in the Peugeot competition, entrants were invited to take a test drive in the World Record holding 308 HDi diesel at their local participating Peugeot Dealer. Each driver’s average consumption over a minimum of 20km was calculated and submitted to the competition website www.howlowcanyougo.ie. On the closing day, Friday 4th December, three entrants had recorded an amazing average consumption of 117.7 MPG (2.4 litres / 100km) and a tiebreak was declared. Within the Peugeot terms and conditions, provision had been made that in the event of a tiebreak, each party would be called to a central location to participate in a head-to-head final.

Three finalists, Mr Donald Barrett, Wexford, Mr John Stephens, Wexford and Mr Oliver Thompson, Galway, took part in a 10-lap final at Mondello Park where an odometer reading, trip computer reading and average consumption were recorded and verified by an independent observer, Tony Toner, member of the Irish Motoring Writers Association. Oliver Thompson was declared overall winner with an astounding average fuel consumption of 91.1 MPG (3.1 litres / 100km).

The 308 HDi diesel hatchback now qualifies for the Budget 2010 €1,500 scrappage deal, announced this week.