Following the outstanding success of the inaugural event in 2010, The Royal Automobile Club’s second RAC Future Car Challenge will take place on Saturday 05 November 2011.

This new initiative will be staged each year during the same November weekend as the Club’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run to actively promote, demonstrate and challenge new low-energy vehicles and echo the pioneering start of motoring in 1896. Just as the Veteran Car Run demonstrated the capabilities of the horseless carriage, the 21^st Century event provides the platform to highlight and exhibit the next radical evolution of the motor vehicle.

The Future Car Challenge is a unique motoring event for electric, hybrid, hydrogen and low-emission internal combustion engine vehicles. The challenge being to use the least amount of energy over a 60-mile route from Brighton to London and finish in London’s famous Regent Street, closed to regular traffic especially for the occasion.

The 2010 challenge attracted more than 60 entries, from major motor manufacturers and private entrants, and witnessed the debut of a number of pre-production and development cars of the future. It is the only event in the UK to showcase future vehicle technology in action to members of the public.

The ceremonial finish in Regent Street, in front of an estimated 250,000 people, will be even more spectacular with presentations, celebrity appearances and entertainment. 

Entries will be categorised by vehicle type as per the following seven groups: (Euro Car Segment)

1. Small Passenger Car (A&B)
2. Regular Passenger Car (C)
3. Large Passenger Car (D)
4. Luxury Passenger Car (E&F)
5. Sports Car (two-seat) (S)
6. Multi-Purpose Vehicle (M&J)
7. Light Commercial Vehicle (up to 3.5 Tonne)

The Challenge is open to road-legal, concept, development, pre-production and production cars and LCVs (light commercial vehicles) that feature new/alternative low-energy in the following five categories:

1. Pure Electric (EV)
2. Extended-Range (E-REV)
3. Hybrid (HV, HEV, PHEV)
4. Hydrogen (HFEV)
5. Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) - up to 110g/km CO₂ emission, fuelled by any legal means*

The challenge is to drive the 60 mile official course from Brighton to London using the least energy possible within the 2hrs 45min minimum and 3hrs 30min maximum time permitted.