Hit hard for being too dominant, Oaktec’s fuel-sipping Honda Insight has been banned from the Formula 1000 Rally Championship.
Developed exclusively for Formula 1000 rallying, Oaktec’s tuned Insight returned 100 miles per gallon when pushed slowly and nearly 82 mpg when the pace quickened. Since Formula 1000 emphasizes both mileage and speed, the race-prepped Insight dominated the start of the 2011 season with two wins and a second-place finish after three events. This, competitors argued, was unfair.
So, after six years spent prepping the hybrid for competition, Oaktec boss Paul Andrews got the call from race organizers and was told the Insight is banned from competition. Andrews says:
It’s a shame it had to happen mid-season but it’s the risk you face in going against the grain and trying something radical. If it fails, no one notices; if it’s successful, you have an unfair advantage.
Oaktec is looking to re-enter Formula 1000 in a class where the competition likely won’t whine as much if the Insight dominates.
[Source: Inhabitat, OakTec]
