Skip to content
Charlie Harding, RAC Patrol of the Year 2016
Charlie Harding, RAC Patrol of the Year 2016

Press release -

RAC Patrol of the Year joins MPG Marathon line-up

RAC Patrol of the Year, Charlie Harding, will be joining the line-up of competitors for this year’s MPG Marathon, and says he’s looking forward to putting his new Ford Transit Custom through its paces.

Charlie, aged 28, from Swanley in Kent, has been an RAC Patrol for four years, and this year he was named as the RAC’s Patrol of the Year.

The annual award is made to the patrol that has given outstanding customer service and technical performance throughout the year, and entitles them to a new vehicle with the prestigious P1 RAC number plate.

Charlie, who ran his own garage business before joining the RAC, said he was looking forward to tackling the MPG Marathon challenge.

He said: “It’s great to have the opportunity as RAC Patrol of the Year to take part in events like this, and with the new Ford Transit Custom I’m really looking forward to seeing how it performs.

“As a patrol vehicle it has been great, but I’ve not done anything like the MPG Marathon before, so I think it will be really interesting to see the MPG results when fully laden with all 500 parts and tools on-board.”

Charlie will be joined by colleagues from the RAC Fuel Patrol team who will be supporting drivers throughout the event, which will see competitors taking on a course setting off from the stunning Heythrop Park Resort in Oxfordshire on October 18 and 19. The fuel patrol specialists will be positioned strategically around the course and on-hand to fill up petrol and diesel tanks as necessary, to keep the event moving.

The MPG Marathon is open to fleet managers, motoring journalists and key figures from the automotive sector, all striving to complete the course using as little fuel as possible.

Jenny Powley, corporate business sales director at RAC Business, commented: “This is the second year RAC Business has supported the MPG Marathon and we’re proud to be involved once again.

“As an event the MPG Marathon is really important in helping fleets understand the real world fuel efficiency of vehicles, in a range of classes, which is data that can potentially help manage fuel costs better.

“In addition it’s a fantastic setting among the Oxfordshire countryside, and a great opportunity for motoring industry figures to get together to share experiences and talk about the latest developments in fuel efficiency and emerging technology.”

Topics

Categories


About the RAC

With more than eight million members, the RAC is one of the UK's most progressive motoring organisations, providing services for both private and business motorists. Whether it's roadside assistance, insurance, buying a used car, vehicle inspections and checks, legal services or up-to-the-minute traffic and travel information – the RAC offers a solution for all motoring needs. The RAC is committed to making motoring easier, safer, more affordable and more enjoyable for drivers and road users.

The RAC is the motorist’s champion and campaigns to support the interests of its members and UK motorists at a national level, including advancing levels of road safety, supporting the needs of young drivers and voicing concerns about the increasing cost of motoring. The RAC’s annual Report on Motoring – first published in 1989 – provides a clear insight into the concerns and issues facing today’s motorists.

For the very latest news on UK fuel prices, check RAC Fuel Watch or follow #racfuelwatch on Twitter. This is a comprehensive guide to the latest UK unleaded petrol and diesel prices – both at the wholesale level and at the pump. RAC Fuel Watch analyses how prices changed through the previous month and compares the most recent prices with those from three, six and 12 months before.

Key facts:

  • RAC patrols fix four out of five vehicles at the roadside and on average within 30 minutes
  • RAC vans carry more than 500 parts and tools to get members’ vehicles going again
  • 92% of members would recommend RAC Rescue to their friends and family

Contacts

News, comment, data and research from the UK's longest-serving driving services organisation

The RAC Media Centre is home to all our content for journalists and news outlets: press releases and comments, as well as the latest driving and motoring-related data and research