India Magic Discovery Tour Transcript

Presenter:
After months of speculation, rumour became reality in India as Ferrari launched its fourth Gran Turismo tour, after China in 2005, America in 2006 and the World Tour in 2007. The tours are developed to demonstrate that Ferrari cars can be driven anywhere by anyone and in any climate, therefore expanding the Prancing Horse brand beyond its traditional fan base.

The ‘Magic India Discovery’ tour, supported by Ferrari’s long-time technical partner, Shell, saw two Ferrari 612 Scagliettis set off from Mumbai on a 74-day road trip across India.

Presenter:
During the tour, the Ferraris made appearances at Shell events in Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Delhi where customers, employees and partners were able to experience the unique sight and sound of the special liveried 612 Scagliettis first-hand.

Presenter:
As in previous Ferrari tours, Shell powered the Ferrari GT cars across India with V-Power road fuel and Helix Ultra motor oil.

Regula:
Shell is one of the main partners of the tour supporting with lubricants and fuel of course, but also involved in various events around the road.

In Formula One it is very well known that Shell has a very close relationship with Ferrari whereas on the road car side the awareness is much smaller and so tours like the Ferrari Magic India Discovery tour offers us an ideal platform to demonstrate it.

I would describe it very much as a two-way relationship that Shell and Ferrari have. On one hand, Shell provides Ferrari with all the knowledge that we have about fuels and lubricants that in the end can benefit Ferrari to get better engine performance.

Presenter:
The Magic India Discovery tour was a technical challenge for Ferrari and Shell as they had deliberately chosen to use the same oil over the 18,000km journey, including pre-tour testing.

The two Ferrari 612 Scagliettis experienced extremely harsh driving conditions including high levels of dust, soaring temperatures above 45°C and slow speeds due to unsealed roads and a multitude of traffic.

These gruelling driving conditions ensured that the Shell fuel and lubricants were put to the ultimate test.

Regula:
For us, Ferrari is the ideal test-bed – these high performance engines are ideal for us to test our products in an environment which is a lot more competitive than the usual normal road cars and we also provide them with insight into what the future developments will be so it’s a perfect technology transfer that they can benefit from.

Presenter:
But the Magic India Discovery tour went beyond the story of technical performance – it was also a cultural experience within the mystical world of India which has brought the technical partnership between Shell and Ferrari to a new dimension.

Presenter:
So after 18,000 kilometres, 57 cities and 74 days, the two Shell-powered Ferraris successfully concluded their Magic India Discovery tour at the world-famous Gateway of India in Mumbai.

At the end of the tour, Shell sent samples of the used Shell Helix Ultra motor oil for analysis.

The two Ferrari GTs had both covered a total distance of 18,000 kilometres – a staggering distance in such harsh conditions, proving just how well Shell’s products had performed throughout the entire tour.

The results were extremely positive, especially in light of how extensive the tour had been, showing the oil to be remarkably robust and highly resistant to degradation.

Presenter:
So what has become of the two F612 Scagliettis used in the tour? Well, one was sold at auction with proceeds going to the Indian Centre for Learning Resources. The other appeared at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, 2008 and has now found its resting place in the Galleria Ferrari the well-known Ferrari museum in Maranello.

Presenter:
Make sure you come back and find us again for more news and insight into the world of Shell Motorsport.

I’m Robert Reina. Goodbye for now!

2 Scaglietti’s were standard cars – re-enforced the bottom of cars and increased length of suspension. Otherwise standard.