Indian ingenuity triumphs at the world’s first zero-carbon eGrandPrix (TTXGP)
June 12, 2009, Isle of Man

An Indo-british team called 'Agni' (fire) has triumphed at the world's first zero-carbon eGrandPrix (TTXGP), held on the Isle of Man TT course on June 12, 2009 as part of the traditional TT race programme. In the Pro Class, team Agni with rider Rob Barber secured first place with a time of 25mins 53secs and an average speed of 87.434mph. Agni is a motor manufacturer with a factory based in Gujarat; this British/Indian company provided motors to half the competitors on the day as well as romped home with the accolade of winning the worlds first clean emission zero carbon Grand Prix.

Their average speed of 87.43 was amazing considering it was a gruelling 37 ¾ mile course with steep mountain roads. Their time broke the 50cc record! Coming third in the open class were team Tork India, a group of engineering students from Pune university in Bangalore, who built their bike as a personal project, outside of the University curriculum without any financial support!

In the Open class US based electric motorsport secured the win with rider Chris Heath secured first place with a time of 34mins 17secs and an average speed of 66.022 mph. Enthusiasts for the clean, noiseless technology are already calling for the TTXGP to be brought to the streets of London in the run up to the London Olympic and Paraolympics Games in 2012.

Azhar Hussain, founder of the TTXGP, said: “Today represents the culmination of an incredibly long journey to the world’s first zero carbon eGrandPrix. The teams, riders and all those involved in making this event possible have worked tirelessly to make the TTXGP the reality it has become today. Together we have proved that zero carbon transport technology has the capability to thrill motor racing fans and is ready for application in the real world.”

Second and third place in the Pro Class were secured by the German XXL Racing Team with rider Thomas Schoenfelder (time: 29mins 04secs/average speed 77.841mph) and the US-based Brammo Bike with rider Mark Buckley (time: 30mins 2secs/average speed: 75.350mph), respectively. In the Open Class, second and third places were secured by US based Barefoot Motors with rider Chris Petty (time: 36mins 23secs/average speed: 62.219mph) and team Tork from India with rider John Crellin (37mins 26secs/average speed: 60.475mph).

Simon Maddison, Chairman IET Technical Panel, who are technical advisors toTTXGP, said, “It’s been a long road to get us to the starting line. No-one could have imagined how the journey would be – 10 months of hard work from our panel but the equivalent of 20 months input from the teams. Everyone who has made it to the Isle of Man has to be congratulated – it has really re-created the pioneering spirit of the TT. To say, it has been a historic moment would be an understatement. To say, it is watching the technology of the future is a statement.”

Full race results

PRO Class

Pos 1 AGNI X01 (Rob Barber) – Time: 25:53:50 – Speed: 87.434
Pos 2 XXL Racing Team (Thomas Schoenfelder) – Time: 29:04:93 – Speed: 77.841
Pos 3 Brammo (Mark Buckley) – Time: 30:02:64 – Speed: 75.350
Pos 4 Mission Motors (Thomas Montano) – Time: 30:33:26 – Speed: 74.091
Pos 5 HTBlauva (Paul Dobbs) – Time: 36.10.63 – Speed: 62.575
Pos 6 Brunel X-team (Stephen Harper) – Time: 56:27:89 – Speed: 40.092

OPEN Class

Pos 1 Electric Motorsport (Chris Heath) – Time: 34:17:30 – Speed: 66.022
Pos 2 Barefoot Motors (Chris Petty) – Time: 36:23:06 – Speed: 62.219
Pos 3 TORK (John Crellin) – Time: 37:26:01 – Speed: 60.475
(Speed=Average speed)

Simon Maddison, Chairman IET Technical Panel, who are technical advisors toTTXGP, said, “It’s been a long road to get us to the starting line. No-one could have imagined how the journey would be – 10 months of hard work from our panel but the equivalent of 20 months input from the teams. Everyone who has made it to the Isle of Man has to be congratulated – it has really re-created the pioneering spirit of the TT. To say, it has been a historic moment would be an understatement. To say, it is watching the technology of the future is a statement.”

About TTXGP

TTXGP is the world’s first zero-carbon eGrandPrix, which was held on the Isle of Man TT course on June 12, 2009 as part of the traditional TT race programme. 11 teams from six different countries, including the USA, India, Germany, Austria, UK and the Isle of Man took part in the race. The TTXGP is about competitive innovation, taking place in the ideal competitive venue on the Isle of Man TT circuit.

There were two classes within the TTXGP race, the Open Class and the Pro Class. While all vehicles conforming to regulations were eligible for entry into the Pro Class, the Open Class was only eligible to machines that could be sold following the race for £20,000. The winner of the Open Class will receive the ‘TTXGP Snaefell Open Trophy 2009’ while the Pro Class category champion will be awarded the ‘TTXGP Snaefell Pro Trophy 2009’.

For further information, visit www.ttxgp.com