The Shell Eco-Marathon UK, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, helps to push the technological barriers of fuel efficiency by harnessing the energy of youth.

For decades, the engineers and scientists of the future have gathered at a special British event in search of a world record for fuel economy. The Shell Eco-Marathon UK, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, helps to push the technological barriers of fuel efficiency by harnessing the energy of youth. On the eve of the 30th anniversary of the Shell Eco-Marathon UK, Shell is proud to continue providing a platform, which encourages and inspires young people to develop the engineering and technology solutions of the future, which may allow the development of sustainable energy solutions.

The highlight of this year's Shell Eco-Marathon UK is the introduction of the Schools Initiative.

The project, supported by the Learning Grid, The Royal Academy of Engineering and Honda (UK), aims to increase awareness of engineering and fuel sustainability amongst secondary school students, by challenging them to design, build and compete in their own car.

The one concession they are granted is a 'mentor' company which comes from the real world of British industry.

For 30 years the Shell Eco-Marathon UK has been encouraging generations of youth, to develop their engineering skills with the aim of improving the fuel economy of their vehicles.

On 12th and 13th July 2006, the 30th Shell Eco-Marathon UK takes place at the Rockingham Motor Racing Circuit, Corby, Northants, where the contestants will be striving to go the extra mile, to surpass the achievements of the previous events.

Normal Koch, the event manager from Shell Global Solutions is passionate about the Shell Eco-Marathon UK: 'It's great that we can enter our 30th year with even more commitment to the future of our event and the young people competing in it'.

'I hope that we can continue to motivate future generations to conserve our natural resources by developing technology that can limit our impact on the environment as we make our way through the 21st Century'.

Since its inception, schools, universities and enthusiastic individuals all compete on a level playing field at the Shell Eco-Marathon UK.

They are competing for a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for fuel economy.

The Rockingham best presently stands at 10,705mile/gal, a figure set by the Microjoule team from France in 2004.

Although this year the challenge is to beat the World Record set by a team in Japan in 2005.

The strict rules for the competition are designed to encourage maximum imagination in a real-world environment.

The vehicles are required to have three or four wheels and forward propulsion must harness Shell unleaded petrol, diesel, LPG or hydrogen.

There are class awards, but ultimately the winning team will have used the least amount of fuel over seven laps of the Rockingham Motor Racing Circuit all at an average speed of at least 15mile/h.

The trick to winning however does not only lie in an efficient engine.

It is equally important to minimise friction losses and aerodynamic drag.

An efficient driving technique is crucial to overcome unpredictable factors on the track such as wind, rain or slower drivers ahead as well as the ability to save fuel by strategically using the engine only when it is needed.

The cars are built purely for the purpose of the Shell Eco-Marathon UK with designs far ahead of their time - giving an insight into the technology destined for cars of the future.

Koch continues: 'While ultimately the Shell Eco-Marathon UK is supposed to be fun for all the competitors, it also has a serious side showing that creativity and imagination can develop technology that makes a difference to the sustainability of the world's natural resources'.