The Ford Focus Electric #104 driven by Sylvain Juteau and Bruno Guglielminetti
FORD CANADA - Sylvain Juteau and Bruno Guglielminetti claimed a podium finish for Ford of Canada at the Rallye International Vert de Montréal (Montreal Green Rally), part of the FIA Alternative Energies Cup. The pair crewed a 2012 Ford Focus Electric to first place in the energy consumption standings and second place overall in the all-electric standings at the two-day event held September 29 - 30.
Participants in the rally drove their vehicle on a predefined course at normal speeds, as opposed to the high speeds drivers usually use in other rallies around the world. Drivers tested out the vehicle's fuel/energy consumption through a series of different regularity tests and time trials. All vehicles in the rally used alternative energies or fuel sources.
"It was a terrific race and the Ford Focus Electric was a definite asset in terms of getting best energy economy. Ford got it right when they developed this vehicle, the brake regeneration system is incredibly efficient," explains Sylvain Juteau, who recently made automotive history by being the first to drive to the top of Mount Washington in his own Ford Focus Electric.
"This was a great experience," mentioned Juteau's co-driver, well-known Montreal tech expert Bruno Guglielminetti. "Sylvain really knows how to drive an electric vehicle; our fuel economy numbers blew me away."
Ford entered two other teams in the rally. Automotive journalist Frederic Charpentier and co-driver Bertrand Gaudet, drove the new 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid to a third place finish in the Hybrid Vehicle category. Alain McKenna and Yohan LeDuc from Sympatico Autos piloted the new 2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid.
"We are proud of all our drivers in the 2012 Rallye Vert de Montréal," said Steve Ross, Ford of Canada product marketing manager of sustainability and electrification. "For our first ever Green Rally we couldn't have been more pleased by the performance by Sylvain Juteau and Bruno Guglielminetti, and want to congratulate them both again for their achievement in claiming the number one spot in energy consumption."
Ford of Canada also had a full display at the downtown Montreal rally grounds, which featured Ford's latest electric vehicles, the C-MAX Hybrid, C-Max Energi (plug-in hybrid), 2013 Fusion Hybrid, and the Focus Electric. Visitors to the Ford station had the chance to partake in their own ride and drive. They could also learn about Ford's bio-materials, such as soy foam and wheat straw-reinforced plastics used in various Ford vehicles.
For more information about the FIA's Alternative Energies Cup and the Rallye International Vert de Montreal, visit www.fia.com/en-GB/sport/championships/Pages/alternative.aspx and www.rallyevert.com respectively.