Shell and Ferrari renew partnership

Shell is to renew its technical partnership with Ferrari for a further five years from 2006 until the end of 2010. The contract details, which will remain classified, agree terms under which Shell will continue to provide fuels and lubricants to Ferrari's road car division as well as its racing operation.

Luca Di Montezemolo, Ferrari President and CEO, Jean Todt, Ferrari Managing Director and senior Shell management will re-sign the sponsorship contract in Imola at the San Marino Grand Prix this weekend.

Powering and protecting Ferrari road cars and its racing operations, Shell products were used in the very first Ferrari cars and Shell played a key role in Ferrari's first Formula One appearance in 1950.

Since then, Shell has powered Ferrari to eight Formula One Constructors' crowns and 11 Drivers' titles. Since 1996, Shell has pioneered track-side analysis techniques that account in part for Ferrari's phenomenal mechanical reliability record.

"We are delighted to be continuing our technical partnership with Shell into 2010," said Ferrari Managing Director Jean Todt. "Shell gives us a real competitive advantage in terms of reliability and performance."

"In fact our partnership is now even more important given the recent rule changes affecting engine life. We have one of the strongest technical relationships in the pit lane and the partnership has, and will continue to, play a key role in our success."

"Formula One is the natural meeting place for a car manufacturer and an oil company, since it provides an opportunity to develop mechanical and product performance in the field and under extreme conditions," commented Juan Carlos Perez, Vice President, Shell Brands International.

"We are delighted to re-sign with Ferrari. Our relationship with Ferrari is one of the most mutually beneficial technical partnerships in automotive history - long may it continue!"

Ferrari's Formula One and road car operations provide a formidable testing ground for monitoring such features as wear resistance, high temperature engine thermal protection systems and reduction of internal abrasion.

Of course, the benefits to Ferrari are enormous too. By keeping the power output and fuel efficiency high and by lowering the density of its fuel, Shell was able to provide Ferrari with performance-enhancing weight savings and better fuel consumption during 2004.

On several occasions (notably San Marino and Spain 2004) Ferrari put in blistering laps whilst their rivals pitted, building up convincing leads before having to come in for a pit stop themselves. Shell innovation isn't simply about raw horsepower.

It is not just the fuel that can provide strategic support to the Formula One team, the correct choice of engine lubricant can also significantly impact the performance of the car.

Ferrari and Shell have developed one of the most reliable engines in Formula One but based on the technology found in the Shell Helix range, the partners have developed a series of lubricant blends that will power and protect the engine in differing measures for 2005.

Leaning on Shell's considerable knowledge regarding engine wear patterns, Ferrari can change engine oil blends throughout a weekend to maximise the performance of the F2005.

In the 2005 season, where an engine must last two race weekends, any added protection or horsepower liberated by a change of lubricant viscosity can make all the difference to track performance, fuel efficiency and of course reliability.

Today, the advances made by Shell on the track feed the development of products for the road. Shell customers today can trace their fuel and oil's heritage back to the high-performance products used by the Ferrari team.

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