Track to Road

Shell and Ferrari pre-season testing, Bahrain, February 2009

For more than 60 years Ferrari has been synonymous with high performance cars, on the race track and the road. When the very first Ferrari drove out of the factory gates in Maranello, Italy, it was powered and protected by Shell.

This was due directly to the confidence Enzo Ferrari had gained in Shell and its products, from a relationship Enzo Ferrari formed in the 1930s and extended through the next two decades, supporting his motor racing activities.

Shell was with Ferrari when he established the legendary company Ferrari S.p.A in 1947. Their technical partnership has continued to excel in many famous motor racing events, from the tight turns of Monaco to the endurance and darkness of Le Mans.

Shell's experience and knowledge continues to give Ferrari a crucial edge on the track. Last season, Shell and Ferrari worked together to develop a new formulation to meet new regulations requiring 5.75% by weight of bio-oxygenate to be incorporated in F1™ fuel, while still providing maximum performance.

The extreme conditions of Formula One™ present a unique opportunity for Shell to develop and supply its products in a cutting edge and fast moving environment. This successful collaborative work saw the partnership clinch its 10th Formula One Constructors' World Championship™. However, the collaboration is about more than track success - it's about transferring that race technology to the road.

Over the past two years a dedicated team of Shell engineers has worked closely with the Ferrari Gran Turismo (GT) road car department to implement the advanced Direct Injection fuel system into the new Ferrari California. As the first Ferrari to feature this system, the California is a step toward the future for the luxury car manufacturer, which has pledged to improve fuel efficiency across its range by 2012.

Every Ferrari that leaves the production line, from the 612 Scaglietti to the newly launched F430 Scuderia Spider 16M, is fuelled by Shell V-Power and lubricated by Shell Helix thanks to the continuing partnership of trust and expertise.

Shell V-Power in the F60

Formula One™ fuel is one of the most tightly restricted and controlled fuels in the world. As such, the responsibility of our engineers in the specially-designed Shell Track Lab at each race cannot be overstated.

"We test the fuel up to 40 times during each and every race meeting to make sure it remains within the FIA specification. The fuels are optimised to run as close to these specification limits as possible for maximum power and efficiency. If at any time the fuel is found to be outside these limits, the Ferrari team could be disqualified, so our drive for perfection is crucial" says Lisa Lilley, Shell Formula One™ Technology Manager.

The advances we've made together with Ferrari have enabled Shell to develop a world-class road fuel, Shell V-Power. The fuel contains 99% of the same types of compounds found in the Shell V-Power being used by Ferrari in the 2009 Formula One World Championship™.

Shell V-Power is designed to improve performance and responsiveness by cleaning power-robbing deposits from the valves and injection system inside your engine. It also actively reduces friction by introducing a surface coating component to protect critical engine parts and unlock valuable energy. It is this technology that has powered Ferrari to ten FIA Formula One™ World Championship Constructors' and 11 Drivers' titles.

"The technology we used to develop Shell V-Power for the road comes directly from the work we are doing in Formula One™," said Mike Evans, Shell's Formula One™ fuels specialist. "But that's not the end of the process - far from it. In Formula One™ you are always pushing for that little bit of extra performance and that's a philosophy we also apply to our road going products. At Shell, we never believe our job is done - we always look to improve."

Every time you fill up with Shell V-Power you get this technology in your tank, giving you and your engine the same benefit as the Ferrari F60. So have a look at the Shell V-Power animation to follow the route of Shell fuel in an engine.

Shell Helix in the F60

The new 'engine freeze' regulation brought into Formula One™ from 2007, which provisionally stops most engine development for 3 to 4 years, means constructors have fewer variables to seek performance advantage.

"The provisional freeze on Formula One™ engine design this year provides a great opportunity for Shell. The products in the car will become a key differentiator for performance and we will be focusing on providing Ferrari the best Shell Helix engine lubricant to help them maintain their competitive edge. This, in turn, will lead to a  greater diffusion of this knowledge into Shell Helix Ultra road oil, giving our customers access to the latest technological advancements", said Lisa Lilley, Shell Formula One™ Technology Manager.

Engine lubricant is critical. The very lifeblood of the engine, its job is to protect the moving parts from mechanical wear, reduce friction and power loss as well as cool the engine both on the track and the road. It takes a good engine lubricant to achieve just the right balance of these characteristics while ensuring the car's performance is optimised. The active cleansing agents also prevent the internal build-up of dirt and improve reliability.

An extreme test bed, Formula One™ pushes the hearts and minds of our Shell team to the maximum as we continually search for the percentage gains that could put Ferrari on pole, while continuing the level of protection that allows the engine to survive and perform at its best through two race weekends. Our reliability has been crucial in helping Ferrari to the ten FIA Formula One™ World Championship Constructors' and 11 Drivers' titles.

"Shell Helix Ultra motor oil shares many components with its championship-winning Formula One™ counterpart", said Mark Wakem, Shell's Formula One™ lubricant specialist. "We're proud that we put our Formula One™ expertise and knowledge into Shell Helix Ultra road oil, giving true Formula One™ technology to you and your engine".

The Shell philosophy is 'what the track takes out, Shell Helix puts back'. So have a look at the engine animation to see how Shell Helix Ultra makes the difference inside a Formula One™ engine at every race.