The “IPC Drivers’ ChallengeTarget not accessible” championship brings together the best drivers from European postal organizations in a competition highlighting eco-driving and road safety. This competition is part of a sustainability programme that encourages driver training and employee commitment. The event was held for the first time in 2012 in France and last took place in 2018 in Portugal. Swiss Post took part in the 2023 event in February, entering for the first time.

On 7 and 8 February in Zandvoort, in the Netherlands, João Henriques, a member of delivery staff from Neuchâtel, wore Swiss Post yellow behind the steering wheel, accompanied by his co-driver Valon Bega, a vehicle manager in the Neuchâtel distribution area. João was selected at the end of 2018 in a competition featuring the 15 best Swiss Post drivers in French-speaking Switzerland, when he was still an apprentice. The duo from Neuchâtel proudly returned to Switzerland with the special award for sportsmanship and a very respectable fourth place out of 12 in the overall rankings.

João, 26, has worked as a member of delivery staff for nine years at the Boudry distribution site in the canton of Neuchâtel, where he completed his apprenticeship. Over the next few months the site will get its first electric vehicles, the aim being to completely electrify its fleet by 2027. Driving and mechanics are a bit of a hobby for João, who collects and restores old cars: “When you drive cars that consume a lot of fuel, I can assure you that you learn to drive in an eco-friendly way,” he says with a smile. So he was obviously interested in being selected to take part in the eco-driving European championships in Daillens in the canton of Vaud.

On the historic Zandvoort race track

The championship brought together 12 teams from eight European postal organizations and was held on the historic Zandvoort race trackTarget not accessible on the North Sea coast in bright sunshine. “Driving on this legendary track was an incredible experience,” explain the duo from Neuchâtel, who were thrilled, especially João, who was visiting the Netherlands for the first time. The eco-driving exercise involved a 30-kilometre course behind the wheel of a vehicle provided by the organizers that was identical for each team: ”It was the brand-new VW buzz model, which went on sale worldwide the day before the competition, so we were the first to drive them,” reveals 37-year-old Valon, who has been with Swiss Post for almost four years. Each team had to wear the official outfit of their postal organization. Displaying the Swiss flag, their vehicle was number 11.

For the competition, drivers had to drive on the race track and in the surrounding areas, as well as complete a 15-km delivery course, which involved driving an electric vehicle and a delivery exercise on public roads. Each team took turns at the wheel. The competitors had to perform a series of vehicle checks, in addition to various vehicle handling exercises. For João, the agility test proved the most challenging: “We had to zig-zag in reverse between cones, in car parks and around roundabouts.” The unfamiliar surroundings took Valon by surprise: “We lost our way a bit at one point, but quickly got back on the right track,” he says with a smile. The competitors were evaluated according to various criteria, such as their driving style, consumption, braking and recharging time: “We drove in an extremely eco-friendly way,” explain João and Valon.