A Thai student team yesterday won the Shell Eco-Marathon Asia competition by designing a prototype vehicle that could run 1,521.9 kilometres on a single litre of gasoline.
"I'm extremely glad that my driving could bring victory to the country, which means the reputation of the country as well," said Kittiwong Kaewbumrung, 20, the driver of Team ATE. "I tried so hard to practise driving over the past three months."
Team ATE from Kong Thabbok Upatham Changkol Kho So Tho Bo School beat 80 teams from 10 countries - China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
The second and third prizes went to Hyogo Prefectural Tajima Technical Institute from Japan for lasting 1,235km and Tongji University from China for squeezing out 940km.
Applause was heard during an interview with The Nation while competitors from other countries gathered at the team's garage to congratulate them.
As loud applause greeted the Thai team at their garage, it brought proud smiles to their faces, including Kittiwong, who was tired after all his driving.
Phudit Rodarin, the team's teacher adviser, told The Nation the students and teachers had worked hard to tune the engine of the prototype and invent its safety system.
Team ATE was awarded US$1,500 (Bt48,700) and a trophy, while the runner-up received $1,000 and third place took home $500.
Teerapon Manying, the school's director, said that since the school was under the Army, he would present the trophy to the Army chief.
Thailand sent 13 teams - two from secondary schools, five from polytechnics and six from universities - to the event held from Thursday to yesterday at the Sepang International Circuit in Selangor.
Malaysia is the first country to host the Asia series. After three years, it will be another country's turn in Asia.