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Bobsleigh champion hails Mazda CX-5 as ‘perfect car’

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Author: | Updated: 25 Jul 2013 16:02

Lightweight, aerodynamic and fast, the life of a Skeleton Bobsleigh champion is one where every thousandth of a second counts. But away from the icy track what vehicle do they use?

Well in the case of leading bobsleigh racer Shelley Rudman, age 32, she’s been relying on the multi award-winning Mazda CX-5 to ferry her and her kit to training and events for the past 12 months. And the partnership is going so well, it is set to continue into next year.

Mazda CX-5 Shelley Rudman 2013

While on the surface the CX-5 might not be the most skeleton bobsleigh-like in the Mazda range (that has to go to the MX-5 roadster) the life of a professional athlete means lots of car miles and lots of kit to carry about. The CX-5 which features Mazda’s new SKYACTIV technology is significantly lighter than the SUV competition and more fuel efficient. Something Shelley is well aware of: "The Mazda CX-5 is the perfect car. It swallows kit and luggage, it is comfortable for those long journeys and is incredibly economical.

“During the year I am either training, travelling or racing and it is good to have a car that I know will be reliable in the sub-zero temperatures, can be loaded quickly when it is really cold and will get us through the toughest of roads in the mountains.”

She first shot to fame at the Turin Winter Olympics in 2006 when she took home the Silver medal. In 2009 and 2010 she followed that up by being the silver medallist in the Skeleton World Cup, she turned this into a gold medal in 2012 and became World Champion earlier this year - the first British woman ever to do so.

This year also promises to be challenging for Shelley with all roads leading towards the Russian coastal city of Sochi and the XXII Winter Olympics in February 2014.

According to Mazda UK chief Jeremy Thomson, Shelley personifies the Mazda brand, adding: “The technology and research that goes into the sled is phenomenal and reflects our own pursuit of environmentally friendly, lightweight solutions to personal transport.”

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