AUTOMOTIVE students will be competing in a driving challenge with a difference.

Instead of flooring it to the finish, Team Hare from Huddersfield University, will be keeping off the accelerator in a bid to use as little fuel as possible.

Motorsport design student, Christian Young, will be driving a Ford Fiesta 1.6-litre diesel from Huddersfield to Hull University for the Formula Student Eco Driving Diesel Challenge.

Some 46 universities will taking part in the relay drive from London to Aberdeen where the aim is to achieve the greatest number of miles per gallon (mpg).

But each leg is strictly timed so extra slow driving is not an option.

The frugal driving challenge, from June 18 to 21, is part of Formula Student, which challenges students to design, build and race a track car.

The eco driving stage may not sound like the most exciting leg but Christian is looking forward to it.

He said: “I’m a bit of an eco driving geek so I’ll be interested to see how many mpg we can get. I’m quite looking forward to seeing what the car can do.

“Our leg is quite flat and mostly motorway so we’re quite hopeful.”