Write In The Driving Seat

“When I heard I was through to the final three I couldn’t believe it! I never thought I’d get through the first round of the competition, so to really be in with a chance of winning is amazing”

Matt is originally from Buckinghamshire, but is currently based in Bicester. At Oxford Brookes university he studied Communications, Media and Culture and is currently a retail sales assistant at Halfords.

He heard about ‘Write into gear’ while browsing the Auto Express website and saw it as a perfect opportunity to turn his love of cars into a career.

Ferrari and Shell V-Power technology: A winning combination

In 1947, the first road car made by Ferrari drove out of the historic factory in Maranello, Italy. It was here, almost 60 years ago, that Ferrari’s technical partnership with Shell began. A partnership that has continued to the present day. A partnership that has become one of the most famous, and most successful ever seen in automotive history.

Both Ferrari F1 cars currently run on Shell V-Power racing fuel; it’s race-specific but 99% identical to the V-Power you can buy from your local Shell petrol station. At every round of the Formula One World Championship, Shell scientists work side by side with Ferrari engineers at the track, carrying out 40 fuel and lubricant analyses. Such in-depth analytical support provides an invaluable insurance policy for a team dedicated to winning.

And win they have. The close technical partnership between Ferrari and Shell has won a total of 12 Formula One Driver’s World Championships and 10 Constructor’s World Championships, helping make Ferrari the most successful team in the history of the sport.

The F1 car, effectively a 180mph laboratory, is the perfect test-bed for the development of Shell V-Power. At Ferrari’s private Fiorano test track, Shell scientists work on developing the fuel to meet the constantly changing regulations of Formula One. In the last 15 years, reliability has been the key to success and, when refuelling is banned from 2010, efficiency will also be vital. The lessons learned at the pinnacle of motorsport will be passed on to the development of Shell V-Power for your road car.

Forever passionate about winning and pushing the boundaries of technology, Ferrari has always shown great faith in the ability of Shell. Enzo Ferrari himself commented that the partnership was essential for the success of both companies, stating in 1963 that “My faith in Shell springs from my experience first as a racing driver, then as a director of the Ferrari racing team and finally as a car manufacturer.”

At Ferrari’s Maranello base, Shell scientists work alongside the engineers in the road car department. They use the knowledge gained from testing their products in the extreme conditions of a thoroughbred race car, and transfer it to road cars for the rest of us to use. This ensures that what you buy at a Shell forecourt really is the best for your car.

Every model in Ferrari’s range, from the handsome Ferrari California to the stunning new 458 Italia, is designed with Shell products in mind. Every year, each of the 5,700 built-to-order cars that roll off the production line in Italy leave with a tank brimmed with Shell V-Power.

Over the past 60 years, Ferrari and Shell have forged a close technical relationship that has become one of the most solid and successful partnerships in the history of the motor industry. Their joint dedication and cutting-edge technical ability ensure that Shell V-Power really is Ferrari fuel for your car.

“To get into the final of ‘Write into gear’ really is an awesome feeling. I’m a real petrol-head so to win the competition would be life-changing!

Having grown up in Dorchester, Andy now works in London as a bond analyst, but he’s always loved cars. In his child-hood he helped his dad to restore old cars and would always read the latest motoring news.

It was while browsing through car reviews online that Andy read about ‘Write into gear’ and decided to enter.

Ferrari and Shell V-Power Technology: A winning combination

Half a dozen freshly-assembled Ferrari 458 Italias glisten at the end of the production line. The moment I see them a large grin spreads across my face – they really are magnificent machines. The latest in a long line of mid-rear engined V8 Ferraris is ready to set the world alight. A supercar for the modern era – and the most technologically advanced road car Ferrari has ever built. The all new V8 has a massive 570HP at 9000rpm, significantly more power than those that preceded it, yet boasts the most efficient and greenest engine in its class. So how have they done it? The secret to this astonishing success is an enduring motorsport partnership established over 60 years ago.

Enzo Ferrari himself said Ferrari’s successes on the track would not have been possible if it were not for the unique partnership with Shell. Today, Shell invests 17,500 hours per year on research and development in Formula 1 for one reason: success never stands still. It is not static, it is dynamic. 50 Shell scientists strive to constantly improve Shell fuel and lubricants, learning lessons from every lap on the racetrack. During a race weekend over 40 samples of fuel and lubricants are analysed. Unique in the paddock, this analysis ensures the reliability of Ferrari’s F1 cars. With a database of over 11,000 samples, Shell scientists are in pole position when it comes to fuel development. In Short, V-power race fuel is manufactured as a component of the engine.

The ban on refuelling in 2010 has caused headaches for many, but for the Ferrari-Shell partnership it has given them another opportunity to shine. The ability to develop a fuel that provides optimum performance and maximum efficiency is testament to the passion and attention to detail that is put in from both sides.

This brings me back to the sublime Ferrari 458 Italia. Those impressive power and efficiency figures are the direct result of technology transfers from the track to the road. The new direct fuel-injection V8 was developed using Shell’s experience with fuel and lubricants. The drive for greater efficiency and performance on the track has lead to a huge leap forward in the latest incarnation of this legendary V8. All Ferrari engines are designed to provide extremely high power outputs and to rev to very high rpm. They are tested from day one using Shell V-Power fuel and Helix lubricants. The new V8 has been widely praised for its powerful and free-revving nature, its reduced internal friction, and its increased efficiency; all areas where clear lines of development can be seen from the track to the road.

It is never assumed that engines are homogenous, yet at times it is of fuels and lubricants. Ferrari and Shell’s partnership produces astounding results. The unique nature of this relationship means developments in motorsport’s ultimate testing ground are transmitted seamlessly to the road.

Success is dynamic. Just as within an engine donning the prancing horse, Ferrari and Shell V-Power work together to achieve great success. A winning combination.

Shell and Ferrari are a well-known winning combination. Now we can all share in their passion for performance with Shell V-Power: an advanced fuel for everyday motoring. Available as high-performance petrol or diesel, Shell V-Power enables road users to benefit from a world-beating, technical partnership.

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