Augusto Farfus, one of the quickest drivers on the DTM circuit, takes to the track at Hockenheim this weekend in his striking red and yellow Shell BMW M4 DTM car for the first race of the 2015 DTM season racing on new bespoke racing motor oil – Shell Helix Ultra with PurePlus Technology – made from natural gas.
As the new Premium Technology Partner to BMW Motorsport, in preparation for the new season Shell Helix Ultra scientists and BMW Motorsport engineers have been working together to develop the bespoke blend of Shell Helix Ultra motor oil for the Shell BMW M4 DTM car. The race blend is made with crystal-clear base oil developed using the revolutionary gas-to-liquids technology, Shell PurePlus Technology. This technology yields high quality base oil made from natural gas that contains virtually none of the impurities found in crude oil. It is designed to help finished lubricants improve engine efficiency, delivering more power from the engine to the wheels so it helps improve overall performance.
Dr. Andrew Greenall, Technical Project Manager for Motorsports Lubricants Development at Shell comments; “The Technical Partnership with BMW Motorsport allows us to work together to co-engineer bespoke Shell Helix Ultra motor oils for the Shell BMW M4 DTM car. Our team of scientists have been working alongside BMW Motorsport engineers since the middle of 2014 in preparation for this first race of the 2015 DTM season at Hockenheim. We work together to get the best performance out of the race car by using the motor oil to help maximise power output, improve efficiency and provide engine durability.”
With only nine engines permitted for all eight BMW DTM cars over the course of the entire 2015 season, the motor oil has a vital role to play in ensuring engine durability. As such, the cleansing, friction reduction and temperature control properties of the motor oil are extremely important.
Explaining the significance of the partnership, Andrew Hepher, Global General Manager for Lubricants Marketing , Shell, said; “The Technical Partnership between Shell and BMW Motorsport will enable our two companies to push the boundaries of both motor oil and engine development, for the ultimate benefit of everyday motorist. It enables us to put the product through its paces in the most demanding environment of a race car engine – an engine which is finely optimised and highly tuned. Our learnings from the track help steer the development of next generation motor oils for road cars”
BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt comments: “Everyone at BMW Motorsport is delighted that we can count on the support of Shell in the DTM this season. Shell Helix Ultra is a high-performance brand, perfectly suited to our motorsport projects. We are putting our faith in these high-performance lubricants, and hope that the new partnership will allow us to lay the foundation for great success together on the racetrack.”