Shell is currently BMW's only "recommended supplier of genuine BMW engine oil," and BMW's only "recommended oil supplier for aftermarket engine oils. This partnership will now be taken to the race track, as Shell has become BMW Motorsport's newest Premium Technology Partner. BMW race teams will race on Shell Helix Ultra in the DTM and at the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring, plus they will run Pennzoil Platinum engine oils in the USCC.
The Shell Helix Ultra logo will appear on all eight BMW M4 DTM race cars, as well as on the team apparel and drivers’ helmets and overalls. One of the BMW Motorsport M4 DTMs will also bear the company’s striking red and yellow design. The two BMW Z4 GTLMs run by BMW Team RLL in the TUDOR United Sports Car Championship will line up on the grid bearing the name Pennzoil Platinum – a Shell engine oil made from PurePlus Technology.
BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt had this to say about the new partnership:
“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.”
Mark Gainsborough, the Shell Lubricant Executive Vice President, commented on becoming a part of BMW Motorsport:
“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.”
Not only will the teams be pushing this new oil to the limit on the race track, BMW Motorsport engineers will also be working with Shell scientists to develop high-performance oils for use in BMW Motorsport race cars. With BMW engines pushing the envelope on efficiency and BMW M engines striving to produce more power out with less displacement, a good oil becomes very improtant!—Nate Risch
