Kiwi claims Volvo comp

Louise Marriott has claimed top honours in the Volvo Trucks Asia Pacific Fuelwatch Challenge, becoming the first woman and the first New Zealander to win the fuel efficiency contest.

India's Ravi Poleboina, meanwhile, took the win the off-road category.

The finals were held in Hua Hin, Thailand, where top competitors from local competitions attended a one-day training session on fuel-efficient driving techniques and technical expertise followed by the finals the next day.

A total of 17 competitors from 10 countries throughout the Asia/Pacific region qualified for the finals across on-road and off-road categories, that number including four women.

This year saw one Australian take to the track: Scott Chandler from Queensland-based freight firm, Connect Trading Transport.

After completing the assessment, Ms Marriott returned a fuel burn figure of 17.5 per cent under that of the highest total for the event. She will now claim a "personalised Volvo experience" as her prize.

"I'm absolutely pleased to be this year's most fuel-efficient driver and to be the first contestant to bring the trophy home to New Zealand," she said after claiming victory.

"While our industry is often thought of as being male dominated, the Fuelwatch Challenge has been a great platform for us to show that all drivers, regardless of gender, can perform at the highest level while being fuel-efficient."

The winner of the off-road category, Mr Poleboina, recorded a fuel burn of 12.5 per cent less relative to fellow contestants.

Volvo says fuel can account for to up to 50 per cent of a typical road freight company's costs, and that its Fuelwatch Challenge is just one way it highlights the importance of fuel-efficient driving and the fuel-saving technologies found in its trucks.

The President of Volvo Trucks in Asia/Oceania, Christophe Martin, said the competition delivered significant benefits to the industry around the world.

"We at Volvo Trucks are firmly committed to the Fuelwatch mission of optimising performance at minimum cost to businesses, society and the environment," he said.

"Since our inaugural event in 2007, the more than 15,000 participants of the Fuelwatch Challenge have become ambassadors of the Fuelwatch community, sharing the skills and technical knowledge that they have picked up at the event to catalyse our goal of a fuel-efficient industry."