Ducati MotoGP Team uses Shell’s ‘made in Qatar’ Gas-To-Liquids lubricants in the 2016 Grand Prix of Qatar

Mar 25, 2016

It was an exciting night as The Ducati Team participated in the 2016 MotoGP World Championship that took place on Sunday evening at Losail International Circuit; Andrea Dovizioso from the Ducati team came in second place after Jorge Lorenzo. Shell and Ducati enjoy of one the most respected Technical Partnerships in motorsport, achieving more than 150 race wins and a total of seven Riders’ World Titles in MotoGP and the World Superbike Championship.

Ducati MotoGP Team

Shell is very proud of the revolutionary Shell Advance Ultra with PurePlus Technology. It is Shell’s most advanced synthetic motor oil to date, derived from gas-to-liquids (GTL) manufactured at Pearl GTL - the world’s largest GTL plant - located in Ras Laffan Industrial City. The GTL process turns gas into crystal-clear base oil with no impurities, unlike crude oil. The end result is a product that delivers even higher levels of quality and efficiency.

The lubricant produced from this process, Shell Advance Ultra with PurePlus Technology plays an integral role in protecting the Ducati engines in MotoGP. The tailored blend is designed to reduce friction and increase power, while also maintaining the performance of the engine and gearbox by protecting them against metal wear.

Michiel Kool, Managing Director and Chairman of Qatar Shell Companies said: “We are thrilled to welcome the Ducati team to Qatar for the MotoGP weekend. The Technical Partnership with Ducati provides us with an environment to test our Shell V-Power fuels and Shell Advance Ultra oils in extreme conditions, providing our scientists with a better understanding of what will deliver improved power and performance. We are immensely proud that Shell Advance Ultra with PurePlus technology is derived from Pearl GTL in Qatar.  It is really remarkable that this extremely high performance motor oil starts life as natural gas from Qatar’s North Field, deep below the waters of the Arabian Gulf.’’

This year Shell and Ducati celebrate an impressive milestone: 18 successive seasons of technical collaboration and working more closely than ever to get the best out of the Shell Advance lubricants and Shell V-Power fuels.

About Qatar Shell

Shell is the largest international investor in Qatar having invested USD 21 billion over the past decade. Qatar Petroleum and Shell have jointly delivered two of the largest energy projects in the world in Ras Laffan Industrial City. Pearl Gas to Liquids (GTL) is the world’s largest GTL plant and cements Qatar’s position as the GTL capital of the world. At an investment of up to USD19 billion it represents the largest single investment in the Shell Group’s global portfolio.

The Qatargas 4 Liquefied Natural Gas project (QP (70%) and Shell (30%) combines Shell’s global leadership in LNG with Qatar’s position as the world’s largest LNG supplier.

Shell has established a world-class research and development facility and a learning centre, the Qatar Shell Research & Technology Centre, at the Qatar Science & Technology Park. Shell has a financial commitment to invest up to USD100 million on programmes in support of energy and the environment at the Centre over a 10-year period.

Qatar Shell contributes to the objectives of the Qatar National Vision 2030 not only through our economic investments, but also through our investments in national talent and capability development, both internally through the professional development of our Qatari employees, and externally through our extensive Corporate Social Responsibility programme, positively impacting Qatar, in partnership with Qatari institutions.

For more information please visit: www.shell.com.qa, and to learn how we #ImpactQatar please follow us on Twitter: @Shell_Qatar and Instagram: shellqatar

Shell In MotoGP

Shell’s Technical Partnership with Ducati Corse began in 1999 when Shell supported Ducati in the Superbike World ChampionshipTM. In 2003, the multiple title-winning collaboration began contesting the MotoGP World Championship together. The partnership has since gone on to become one of the strongest and most successful within the motorcycle world, having collected six World Superbike Riders’ Titles and nine Manufacturers’ Titles, along with a clean sweep of the MotoGP Riders’, Teams’ and Constructors’ World Championship titles in 2007.

In 2013, Shell extended its Technical Partnership to include Pramac Racing. This followed the announcement that the Pramac squad would become an official Ducati factory-supported team.

Shell’s involvement in premier class motorcycle racing has helped develop the Shell Advance lubricant and Shell V-Power fuel for the road, so that bikers all over the world can benefit from the cutting-edge technology developed on the track. The transfer of knowledge gained from the track to Shell’s products for the road, is central to the Technical Partnership with Ducati, as MotoGP provides the most extreme test bed for Shell’s products.

Scientists from Shell’s Technology Centre in Hamburg, Germany, regularly visit the Ducati factory in Bologna and are closely engaged with Ducati engineers to ensure that the Shell Advance race lubricants and Shell V-Power race fuels are optimised to power and protect the Ducati engines in MotoGP. A rigorous testing programme runs all year round, with samples from the races analysed back at the Shell laboratories to ensure constant development and performance. The fuels and lubricants developed must not only meet the sporting regulations, but match the exacting requirements of the Ducati MotoGP Team itself.

Shell Advance

Ducati Corse and its Technical Partner, Shell, undertake extensive and rigorous testing of the bespoke Shell Advance formulations to gain a detailed understanding of the Desmosedici GP15 engine’s frictional characteristics and lubrication requirements.  This enables the companies to develop the hardware and lubricant in order to achieve maximum benefit – unlocking valuable performance whilst maintaining durability.