Visit the Kluber Lubrication GB web site

Ferrari stars to meet engineers of the future

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jun 27, 2005

Seven-time Formula One World Champion, Michael Schumacher and his Scuderia Ferrari team mate Rubens Barrichello will be on hand at this year's Shell Eco-Marathon UK.

Seven-time Formula One World Champion, Michael Schumacher and his Scuderia Ferrari team mate Rubens Barrichello will be on hand at this year's Shell Eco-Marathon UK to meet record-breaking engineers of the future.

The event, now in its 29th year, is to be held on 6th and 7th July 2005 at the Rockingham Motor Racing Circuit near Corby, Northamptonshire in the UK.

Schumacher and Barrichello will attend the event on 7th July at 0945 BST.

They will drive a lap of the race circuit in a Shell Eco-Marathon car.

From the raw speed of the Formula One race track to an all together more conservative test bed; the 2005 Shell Eco-Marathon UK aims to find the team that can design, build and drive the most fuel efficient vehicle in the world.

The current world record is a staggering 11,195 miles per gallon.

Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello will be stopping at the event en route to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

The engineers running these fuel-efficient hybrid cars will be working with the same Shell Global Solution's engineers who develop, blend and analyse the fuel for Ferrari's 850 horsepower Formula One racing cars.

Teams have entered from as far away as the USA and Japan to take part in the event and this year's competition is expected to consist of a record number of teams from schools, colleges, and universities - not forgetting many independent and passionate engineers.

All the teams are hoping to claim the coveted title of "world's most fuel efficient vehicle" and in turn become a world record holder.

Norman Koch, organiser of the Shell Eco-Marathon UK, explained: "To stand a chance of beating the record, the cars are as light as possible and have minimum aerodynamic drag, yet they still have to be strong enough to bear the driver - no easy task".

The current world fuel efficiency record, set in 2004, is held by Japanese team, Fancy Carol.

They achieved a figure of 11,195 miles per gallon using a special Shell fuel similar to Shell Optimax - produced using the same techniques as when Shell mixes fuel for the Ferrari Formula One car.

Although vastly different in terms of speed and power, both the Shell Eco-Marathon and Formula One cars rely heavily on fuel efficiency for success.

The Ferrari Formula One team works closely with Shell to develop fuels that are not only powerful, but also light and fuel-efficient in an effort to give the team the best strategic options during a race.

Koch continues: "It is wonderful to have both Michael and Rubens coming along to this year's event".

"Together with Shell they recognise the importance of tackling the environmental issues of road transport and research into improved energy efficiency and sustainable energy resources".

"Of course, fuel efficiency is a vital part of modern Formula One as it can give the team precious weight-saving benefits".

"These benefits will enable Michael and Rubens to stay on track longer and travel further and faster between pit stops".