This auto race shows how to save fuel

It’s not what you drive, but how.

Three motoring enthusiasts of The Philippine STAR went out on the road and out of their usual way to prove just that.

STAR assistant business editor Roman Floresca humbled motoring buffs when his team bagged the Petron Xtra Mile Challenge Media Edition last week.

Floresca and co-driver Delfin Perez, assistant business editor of the Manila Bulletin, won the unique 10-team race for the vehicle that could go the farthest on one full tank of Petron’s Xtra Unleaded gasoline.

Coming in second in the three-day gas savers’ race that started Jan. 8 was The Philippine STAR team of Wheels project manager Jeff Reyes and motoring columnist Lester Dizon.

The "business beat" tandem of Floresca and Perez made it all the way to Albay from their starting point in Bangui, Ilocos Norte that saw them traversing the length of Luzon down to the Bicol region.

The team’s "formula for success," according to Floresca, was a combination of a gradual buildup of speed from every stop, limiting their speed at 60 kilometers per hour while the engine moved at 1,500 revolutions per minute — basically the opposite of how most motorists normally drive.

Citing wind factor, Floresca said that if a motorist drives at a faster rate, the wind resistance to a car is stronger, thus increasing fuel consumption.

Fuel economy is key to get a better gas mileage, he noted.

"The rationale behind fuel economy is that while you manage the resistance of the wind, you could use the full potential of the engine by using the highest gear possible. Staying at a lower gear for long increases fuel consumption," says Floresca, who says he was practicing "econo-driving" even before the race.

Floresca also shares that when they would come to a stop in towns, his team would not do a "jackrabbit start" when the lights turned green or after the people have crossed the street. Something as simple as this could actually add to fuel consumption.

Traveling at high speed also makes a driver prone to "mistakes" like suddenly slamming on the breaks when something unexpected happens on the road.

Other don’ts, Floresca says, are "no sudden stops and no revving up the engine while he urges motorists to plan their trips ahead and leaving early for an appointment so there wouldn’t be a need to speed, drive aggressively and zigzag one’s way through traffic.

The first Xtra Mile record was set in 2005 by Philippine motorsport legend Pocholo Ramirez, who was able to drive 1,114-kilometers on one full tank of Petron Xtra Unleaded from just outside Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte, to Casiguran, Sorsogon.

In May 2006, six teams of everyday motorists competed in the Xtra Mile Challenge. All six teams broke Ramirez’s record, with team Zayco Hermanos posting 1,400.4-kilometers on one full tank.

Other teams that competed in the race were Top Gear of Vernon Sarne and Jaykee Evangelista, dzRH-dzRB with Jess Garcia and Joseph Javier, Auto Review’s Ronald de los Reyes and Raymund Sanchez, dzMM with Angelo Almonte and Ricky Velasco, Autoindustriya’s Raymond Young and Brent Co, Spotlight TV’s Egay Quesada and Giosi Mendoza, Isports Lang’s Ira Panganiban and Andy Sevilla and Cyberpress’ Jing Garcia and Melvin Calimag.