Schools Gearing Up to Show Their Drive at the Annual Shell Eco-marathon Americas Event
April 15, 2009 Kyriaki (Sandy) Venetis 
The Mater Dei High School team proudly posing for a picture after winning the Prototype Award at last year’s Shell Eco-marathon Americas event. The team had the distinction of setting the marathon’s record with a fuel efficiency of 2,843 miles per gallon, equivalent to 1,208.6 kilometers per liter. Photo courtesy of Shell Oil Co.
HOUSTON - High schools and universities across the Eastern Hemisphere are gearing up for the third annual Shell Eco-marathon Americas event this Friday at the Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, Calif.
“The Eco-marathon challenges teams to design, build, and drive the farthest using the least amount of energy,” said Robin Lebovitz, media relations coordinator for Shell Oil Co.
Student teams manage their projects from start to finish, including vehicle design, financing, and transportation to the event. This year, 52 teams from nine high schools and 32 universities will be competing in two categories- the Prototype and the premiering Urban Concept.