We previously reported when BMW decided to partner with Shell to use Shell’s lubricants for the BMW Group. This partnership would not only reach the consumer space but also in the motoring world, especially when BMW Motorsport races in the DTM, the United SportsCar Championship (USCC) and the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife (DE) in 2015. They will be joined by Shell as its new Premium Technology Partner.
From 2015, Shell is also the only “recommended supplier of genuine BMW engine oil” and “BMW’s only recommended oil supplier for aftermarket engine oils”. This exclusive cooperation is now being extended to the racetrack, where the teams will race on Shell Helix Ultra and Pennzoil Platinum engine oils. All these engine oils are made from natural gas which enables them to deliver enhanced engine protection and performance for both BMW road and race cars.
The Shell Helix Ultra logo will appear on all eight BMW M4 DTMs race cars, as well as on the team apparel and drivers’ helmets and overalls. Shell Helix Ultra is one of a series of premium engine oils based on the unique Shell PurePlus Technology – a revolutionary gas-to-liquid (GTL) process that converts natural gas into a crystal-clear base oil, the main component of oils, with virtually none of the impurities found in crude oil. When this technology is combined with a selection of high performance additives it actively protects the engine and keeps it clean. The Shell BMW M4 DTM race car will also bear the company’s striking red and yellow design.
BMW Motorsport engineers will also work alongside Shell scientists to develop high-performance oils for use in BMW Motorsport race cars. This development will be on-going during testing and the course of each respective race season. It will focus on sequential improvements of performance factors such as reducing friction and wear.
BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt commented on the latest exciting developments: “Everyone at BMW Motorsport is delighted that we can count on the support of Shell in the future, both in the DTM and the USCC, as well as the Nürburgring 24 Hours. Shell Helix Ultra and Pennzoil Platinum are high-performance brands, which are 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.”
Speaking on the news Mark Gainsborough, the Shell Lubricant Executive Vice President, said: “Shell has a passion for all things in motorsport as demonstrated by our long standing involvement in the international motorsport arena. We are excited to be expanding this involvement as BMW Motorsport’s partner, in addition to being BMW’s recommended supplier of aftermarket engine oils. The partnership with BMW Motorsport highlights the significant contribution that our oils especially our Shell Helix Ultra and Pennzoil Platinum engine oil brands can make to the performance of the BMW race cars. We look forward to working alongside the BMW Motorsport team to develop and deliver products to maximise drive train performance of the BMW race car fleet. This collaboration will enable both companies to push the boundaries of both motor oil and engine development hopefully for the ultimate benefit of the everyday road car driver.”
BMW Motorsport will also use Shell Helix Ultra with PurePlus Technology in GT and endurance racing. This premium product can significantly help improve the performance and life cycle of the drive train. These properties are essential, particularly at the toughest racetrack in the world – the Nürburgring-Nordschleife (DE). For this reason, Shell will also support the BMW Motorsport works teams at the 24-hour marathon in the “Green Hell”: the BMW Z4 GT3s will also bear the Shell Helix Ultra logo.
BMW Motorsport enters its second season in the USCC in North America, where, together with its new Premium Partner Shell, it is looking to add another chapter to its success story. From 2015, the two BMW Z4 GTLMs run by BMW Team RLL will line up on the grid bearing the name Pennzoil Platinum – a further Shell engine oil made from PurePlus Technology.
