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The relationship between Shell and Ferrari, each a powerhouse in their respective fields, is one of long-standing and great success. The track record of wins for this duo in the world of F1 is especially impressive and continues to gain praise across the globe. Below are just a few recent highlights: Shanghai Success – Shell V-Power®, the most advanced fuel Shell has ever developed, took center stage at the Shanghai Grand Prix in October. Alexandra Harney of the Financial Times attended the event and called Shell V-Power® the "secret sauce behind its (Ferrari) championship team." Fans of the Ferrari Formula One team know that Ferrari’s race cars are powered by special blends of racing fuel tailored by Shell specifically for each race. What they may not realize is that the racing fuel used on the track is 99 percent the same as the Shell V-Power gasoline they can get at the pump. In Harney’s piece she commented on the ability of Shell V-Power® to "clean the engine as it powers the car to improve performance." Motorheads across the pond may buy "petrol" at the pump, but in any dialect Shell V-Power® defines power and performance for the automotive enthusiast! Shell and Ferrari in 2008 – Every Hollywood star has their entourage of stylists, agents, and makeup artists, and it’s no different in the world of Formula One racing. Behind the scenes of Ferrari’s F1 team, you will find a crew of more than 50 Shell technical staff who support Ferrari’s on-track endeavors. These specialists come from laboratories and facilities around the world, including the Scuderia Ferrari factory in Maranello, Italy. Their job is to keep things running smoothly from behind the curtain, so that when the time comes, the F1 car and drivers can truly shine on the stage…or track, as the case may be. This is far more than a sponsorship – it’s a technical relationship. To date Ferrari has won 12 Formula One World Championship Drivers’ Titles and nine Formula One World Championship Constructors’ Titles with the support of Shell. This technical partnership benefits Shell as well as Ferrari. It enables Shell to test road products – from Shell V-Power® fuel and Shell Helix® lubricants to other specialty lubricant products, such as Shell Spirax® gear oil. Shell uses cutting-edge technology to provide Ferrari full analyses of fuel and oil samples at every race. In the Shell trackside laboratory, located within the Ferrari compound, Shell scientists conduct more than 40 tests per weekend on the Shell V-Power®, Shell Helix® and Shell Spirax® race products used in the cars to ensure vehicle peak performance at all times. One of the latest fuels developed by Shell contains Friction Modification Technology. Targeting mainly the piston rings, this element is designed to help the engine turn more freely, unlocking valuable energy and helping improve horsepower. Formulated with powerful cleansing agents, the fuel also helps improve responsiveness. The lessons learned and boundaries broken within the extreme environment of motor racing contributed to the development and production of this product and continue to be an influential step in fuel and lubricant product development for Shell overall. Day of Passion – Remember that third grade field trip you took to the local canned spinach company for a factory tour? You ended the day dusty, ears ringing from the clang of machinery, and yearning for a long division quiz just to end the sheer boredom? Now instead, imagine a class trip led by F1 driver Kimi Raikkonen to a factory in Italy that makes Ferraris, one of which you actually get to drive on a race track. Now you’ve got an idea of what the Shell Day of Passion is like. In early April, Shell held its Day of Passion in Maranello, Italy, where select media had the opportunity to explore and celebrate the relationship between Shell and Ferrari. The event consisted of Shell V-Power® technical fuel demonstrations, Q&A sessions with Shell technical spokespeople, a meet and greet with Formula One drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa, an F1 track demonstration, and an exhilarating driving experience in Ferrari road cars where media had the chance to drive the cars themselves. Don Sherman, technical editor for Automobile magazine, represented U.S. media at the event. He focused on the behind-the-scenes fuel preparation and testing that takes place at F1 races and wrote an article about it on Automobile.com. Be sure to check future issues of Automobile and online for more Shell stories by Don! |