Held by Komoco Motors, the Hyundai Fuel Economy Challenge pits drivers against one another to see who can cover the most with the least

It’s the morning of September 9, a Saturday. The sun isn’t up yet and the air is cool, the Hyundai headquarters located at 253 Alexander Road is abuzz with activity. Its showroom lights are on, you can see families and people of all ages geared up to start their 400km journey up towards Kuantan, Malaysia.

Welcome to the 6th Great Hyundai Fuel Economy Challenge. The brainchild of Jeffrey Low, head of group corporate affairs at Singapore’s main Hyundai distributor, Komoco Motors, the race was started to rebuke the myth that these Korean-built machines were in the habit of drinking gasoline.

Our journey started at the showroom, we then headed the nearby Shell petrol kiosk for a re-fueling and mileage check. There were a total of 43 Hyundais in our convoy which included Accents, Avantes, Elantras, Tucsons, an i30 and i40 (too bad there weren’t any Velosters with us). And just to make sure that everyone played fair, marshalls from the event’s main organisers, Pit Crew, stuck special tape on each and everyone’s fuel fuselage door to discourage tampering.

After everyone’s gas was pumped, the convoy set off on the 400km drive up some of Malaysia’s most interesting and scenic B-roads. During which we stopped to for lunch and a quick head count before continuing our journey right to the Shell petrol kiosk located near the Vistana Kuantan City Centre Hotel, which was to be our lodging for the night.

At the gas station, the marshalls once again made sure that the kiosk was ready for us. One by one they ushered the cars in, checked each and every car’s milage, re-fuelled them and sent them on their way to the hotel for check-in.

For some, this wasn’t their first time taking part. But for Category A winner (1,600cc and below) Mr Aaron Low (not related to Jeffrey Low), not only was this his first time, he also emerged victorious in first place with 4.16L/100klm in his Elantra. A win he attributes to a combination of not using the air conditioner while driving at a constant speed.

For Category B (2,000cc and above), it was a Tucson that took home first prize with 7.6L/100km. For the driver, Mr Robert Cochrane (in the above picture), his win was unexpected, “I came in second last year, and now first. Both wins came as a surprise for both my wife and I.”

Winners of both categories received a trophy along with a $2000 Shell petrol voucher.