News Features

After months of meticulous planning, designing and testing, the 2005 Formula One World Championship arrives in Turkey on August 21st. Just 90 km from the heart of Istanbul, the ‘Istanbul Speedway’ will be one of the most modern racecourses on the Formula One calendar.

The new circuit is designed by the famous German architect, Herman Tilke, who is also behind circuits such as Japan, China and Malaysia. It has 14 separate corners, squeezed into 5.34 kilometres of track.  It is sure to ask a lot of drivers and their machines in the Turkish heat. The maximum theoretical speed expected to be achieved will be 320.5 kilometres per hour.

Whilst the track is not as technical as circuits such as Shanghai, it does provide a host of varying corners with eight lefts and six rights. This, combined with the varying gradients which run over four level sections with rising and descending grades, should make it one of the most exciting and interesting circuits to date.

Turkey will be one of the only tracks in the Formula One World Championship to run anti-clockwise (Brazil and San Marino are the other two). This will further add to the drivers’ challenges, because abnormal stresses on the body will compound an already tough race.

The circuit itself doesn't feature the long straights followed by tight hairpins that characterise the likes of Sepang and Shanghai. This will make overtaking more difficult and make a good performance in qualifying essential.

It is here that Shell comes into its own. The engine oil used at the Turkish race will have to cope with higher then average temperatures as radiators will get less airflow compared with faster tracks. If one car follows closely behind another and cannot overtake, the lack of air through the oil radiators of the following car will cause engines temperatures to rise as the engine oil is not being optimally cooled by the air through the radiators. Shell considers this when testing various oils, and Shell Helix is able to remain thermally stable at extremely high temperatures, offering the Italian marque the power and protection they need.

Mark Wakem, Shell’s Formula One Engine Oil Development Leader, says: ‘With the cars running so hot, we have to ensure that Ferrari have an engine oil available which still maximises performance whilst maintaining reliability. Also, throughout the weekend, more and more rubber is laid on the new track, making lap times faster. We provide Ferrari with a fuel that will exploit this and give the team the maximum flexibility when it comes to deciding pit stop strategy’.

The spectator facilities as at any new circuit are sure to be impressive. Planned seating capacity is 155,000, with 25,000 of those in the main grandstand.  Parking will be available for 20,000 cars. Dominating the circuit's skyline will be two seven-floor VIP towers built at either end of the pristine paddock.

The paddock buildings themselves are two-level structures. The ground floor sections are for the Formula One teams and the upper floors will serve as hospitality areas with additional viewing capacity of 5,000 seats. The highly sophisticated paddock and pits complex will give the teams a clean, well-organized environment in which to work.

Alberto Friedrich, Shell’s Global Sponsorship Manager, says: ‘There is always something special about going to a new country to perform in front of a curious new public eager to learn about the sport. Personally, I am eager to see the new circuit and its multi-level layout. The gradient changes will make for a challenging race environment for all the drivers and interesting viewing for the fans’.

As always, Shell engineers will be on hand throughout the entire race weekend providing expert backup to Scuderia Ferrari, and making sure that when Rubens and Michael roll out of the new garages on Friday morning, they have the best fuel and lubricants on board their cars.

All in all, Shell’s role with the Ferrari team can come to the fore front at races such as Turkey. Offering reliability, power and efficiency, Ferrari comes to Turkey with one of the strongest technical partners in the paddock at its side.

An inaugural grand prix at any circuit is always extremely special with an atmosphere filled with excitement and mystery. Thousands of curious new fans will attend who have never experienced the spectacle of a Grand Prix before.  It is something many will never forget. Either way, the Turkish Grand Prix 2005 could be one of the most famous races of all time. Be sure not to miss it.