Hello everyone,
Mark here. ("Charley" Farley, Shell Analytical Focal Point Trackside). We are in Monte Carlo, Monaco, for the most anticipated race on the calendar and you just cannot escape the feeling of excitement. The whole principality has been completely transformed into a race track, which means that the fans can get really close to the action.
The tight corners on the Monaco street circuit expose the Ferrari engines to extreme conditions every year. Lisa (Lilley, Shell Technology Manager for Ferrari) likes to remind people that the oil flow around the engine is faster than the speed of the Ferrari Formula One car, and a good thing too given how tight and narrow the circuit is here! The mix of slow and fast speeds and the amount of braking required puts the engine under immense strain, for instance the pistons can exceed temperatures of 300°C. The oil must move quickly to keep the pistons cool.
This is where our trackside analysis can play a crucial role in Ferrari’s race approach. One of the tools that we use to help us in the Shell Track Lab is the Rotating Disc Electrode (RDE) oil analyser which uses a technique called Optical Emission Spectrometer (OES). Its main function is to detect an increased selection of wear metals in the oil. It’s like having eyes inside the Ferrari engine, which enables us to inform the team about its condition.
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