It’s about formulated fuel achievement (leaving competitor’s fuel in utter bereavement):

Cleansing fuel for the banger in your life Protecting fuel for the modern classic driven by your wife Performance fuel for everyone’s car Unleashing the most potential from the engine by far

So [...]]]> “Shell V-Power” means fuel with more POWER
Forecourt secret no more – shout it from bonnet to tower

It’s about formulated fuel achievement (leaving competitor’s fuel in utter bereavement):

Cleansing fuel for the banger in your life
Protecting fuel for the modern classic driven by your wife
Performance fuel for everyone’s car
Unleashing the most potential from the engine by far

So demand fuel with more Oomph!
Continue the commotion
Get “Shell V-Power Fuel” – poetry with motion.

Matt is originally from Buckinghamshire, but is currently based in Bicester. At Oxford Brookes university he studied [...]]]> “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.

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 [...]]]> “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.

Winning the competition is a dream come true [...]]]> Winner

Paul is originally from Peterborough, but is currently based in North London. Having studied English Literature at UEA, Paul went on to achieve a Journalism Masters at Kingston. Paul now works as a freelance journalist and heard about ‘Write into gear’ while searching the web for media jobs.

Winning the competition is a dream come true for Paul. While growing up, he always loved cars and going to the home of Ferrari was a brilliant experience for him. Paul says: “My love of cars, and indeed motorsport, means that writing about them for a living would be my dream job.”

Having been crowned ‘Write into gear’ champion, Paul claims that he’s now a lot closer to achieving that dream.

Click here to read Paul’s winning article

Whether you’re pulling a well timed overtake on your drive home from work, or racing for a world championship, it is these little chances that can make all the difference to your drive.

If I hadn’t taken the chance [...]]]> Life is all about taking chances, seeing your opportunity, seizing the moment, and grabbing it with both hands.

Whether you’re pulling a well timed overtake on your drive home from work, or racing for a world championship, it is these little chances that can make all the difference to your drive.

If I hadn’t taken the chance of entering a competition, then I would never have found myself standing outside Shell’s research and development HQ on a cold December morning, wondering what I might find inside.

What I discovered was that Shell don’t take any chances when it comes to Shell V-Power.

They have spent years developing and refining their fuelling innovations, using everything from sapphire engine cylinders to giant dynamometers and triple-tanked road cars. Shell’s team can ensure that their fuel produces stunning results from every engine it meets.

They test 200 different cars, from all over the world, to guarantee that whether their fuel is in a V12 Ferrari 575, or a 1987 Vauxhall Cavalier, there is zero chance of failure.

Shell’s scientists, like Mike Evans and Jo Swindells, experiment in the lab, adding powerful cleaning agents to the fuel mix. So that as you drive, Shell V-Power will purge the engine of anything that might slow you down, making blocked fuel injectors and dirty inlet valves a thing of the past.

The 17,500 hours of F1 development that Shell do each year mean that cutting edge improvements are brought straight from the track to the road. V-Power benefits from race derived Friction Modification Technology, which eases the pressure on the piston heads, allowing the engine to rev more freely.

Choosing Shell V-Power gives every driver the chance of a more responsive drive, but if you aren’t willing to take that chance, it might just pass you by.

These high-octane fuels improve engine performance without modification, meaning no additional [...]]]> 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.

These high-octane fuels improve engine performance without modification, meaning no additional insurance costs.  Shell V-Power also removes carbon deposits in our engines and reduces power-draining friction. This innovative technology is designed for daily use and only costs a few pence more per litre.

Why pay more?

We all use premium brands every day and are often willing to pay a little more to be assured of good quality. However, it seems that few of us relate the benefits of choosing quality products, to the fuelling of our cars.

With rising fuel costs, it’s important to get the most value out of every drop. By providing sustainable performance increases, whilst actively aiding reliability, Shell V-Power helps us to achieve this. Ensuring that our driving experience is enhanced and our engines run more efficiently.

How does it work?

Developed in the ultra-demanding world of Formula One Racing, Shell V-Power blends Friction Modification Technology, high-octane petrol (99 RON) and a cleaning component. These mutually beneficial elements combine to help deliver superior, sustainable performance, through faster acceleration and improved engine response.

Shell V-Power is specially formulated to also aid reliability and can even reclaim lost power in tired engines. It does this by removing performance crippling carbon build-up, as well as reducing friction; which helps engines to run stronger and for longer.

Boost your cars performance without additional insurance costs, whilst enjoying the peace of mind that it’s also good for your engine.

Enjoy motoring again – with Shell V-Power.

If we could somehow ‘talk’ to [...]]]> In 2008, according to Government source, the average UK household spent more on purchasing and running their vehicles than on food and drink. However, although many people know that it’s beneficial to check the ingredients in the food they consume, significantly less seem concerned with what goes into their fuel.

If we could somehow ‘talk’ to our engine, what could it tell us about the importance of the ingredients of fuel? Fortunately, in the laboratories and testing facilities at the Shell Technology Centre in Cheshire, this has already been done for us. What has been the result of the conversation? The answer is two rather special fuels: Shell V-Power and Shell V-Power Diesel.

Shell V-Power, developed in close conjunction with Ferrari, is more than just a high octane performance fuel, adding in powerful cleaning action and Friction Modification Technology (FMT) into the formula. FMT reduces friction where it’s most important – at the piston rings, helping the engine run smoother and resulting in more efficient power transfer to the wheels. Shell V-Power Diesel on the other-hand utilises a process known as GTL (Gas to Liquid Technology). The result is a translucent fuel which, as the name suggests, comes from gas rather than crude oil. This burns cleaner and produces fewer performance impairing deposits which can accumulate on fuel injector nozzles. Critically, with prolonged use, both fuels have been shown to remove deposits left over from previously used fuels.

In real terms, the difference you will notice with a Shell V-Power fuel will be when you find yourself on the right road (which you will), when you need to pull away a little sharper than expected or just plain and simply getting the maximum benefit from your investment. For all these occasions you might well agree with Shell’s statement that ‘Not all fuels are the same’.

Having been lucky enough to spend a day at the Shell Technology Centre [...]]]> If your knowledge of chemistry is as sketchy as mine, you may share the accepted wisdom that the fuel that you put into your car is pretty much identical, regardless of its source.
Inevitably, this common misconception can easily be proved wrong.

Having been lucky enough to spend a day at the Shell Technology Centre in Thornton, I can confirm that while I will never understand how it’s done, the benefits of premium fuels are clear – even for someone with my humble scientific background.

The V-Power super fuels are the pride and joy of the 700 ingenious people of the Global Solutions team. Both petrol and diesel variants are designed to exploit the potential of any car. Enhanced octane levels maximise the grunt available in high performance beasts, while improved cleaning additives and friction modification technology ensure that even the most modest runabout runs as cleanly and smoothly as possible, for as long as it can.

The advantage of Shell’s collective expertise is evident in the record books, with multiple successes at Le Mans (first diesel powered winner with V-Power diesel), Superbikes with Ducati (7 World titles) and Formula One with Ferrari (12 Drivers’ and 10 Constructors’ titles).

The long standing technological partnership with Ferrari, which dates back to the days of Enzo Ferrari the racer, provides the ultimate test laboratory for future generations of V-Power and ensures that the Formula One technology of today makes it into the cars of tomorrow.
So while the accepted cliché may be that all fuels are created equal, the results on the track and the tests in the laboratories show that Shell V-Power is considerably more equal than others.

It’s clearly no coincidence that when a Prancing Horse leaves Maranello for the first time, it’s fuelled by Shell’s V-Power.