October 22, 2006
Shell the only F1 team with a mobile track lab
SHELL is proud of the fact that it is the only team in the Formula One fraternity that has a mobile track laboratory.
The idea to have a mobile laboratory originated when Shell teamed up with Scuderia Ferrari in 1996 and used a fuel analyser that was housed in the Ferrari garage. The following year, the oil analysis equipment was developed and again located in the Ferrari garage. In 1999, both pieces of equipment were installed into white cabinets, similar to those currently used today in the track lab.
A team of three journalists from Malaysia were given the chance to go on a behind-the-scenes tour of the Shell’s mobile fuel testing laboratory at the Shanghai International Circuit. The track lab is where Shell analyses the fuel used during race weekends at all the 18 stops on the calendar.
The track lab is housed in a small container and can accommodate the technical manager, fuel specialist and the lubricant specialist at any one time.
Shell’s technical manager Mike Copson ran us through the ins and outs of the track lab.
“This is the integral part of the team where the fuel and lubricant used for the weekend is tested up to 40 times to ensure drivers are able to get the best performance on the track,” he said.
“We start analysing the fuel and lubricant from Thursday morning right up to the race day on Sunday.”
To find the optimum fuel, Shell blends its fuels as close to the limits as possible. However, since the FIA, the governing body of the F1 race, can take a random sample of fuel at any time during a race weekend, Shell and Ferrari have to take extreme care to ensure the fuel remains legal and in prime condition during the weekend.
The fuel specialist analyses the fuel using gas chromatography equipment to ensure it stays in accordance to the FIA regulations. If a sample taken by the FIA does not match the pre-approved profile, the team can ultimately be disqualified.
“Regulations governing the oil are less restrictive. Their job is to determine the level of wear in the engines,” said Copson.
“The lubricant specialist uses an X-ray technique to check for any metallic wear particles that is held in suspension in the oil after each session.
“This is a very important test as we can see how the engine is performing until the end of the weekend. This will help expand the life of the engine and gearbox,” he explained.
“I know that other teams have analytical abilities on fuels but we are the only one to have a full working mobile laboratory. And we are proud to have this kind of close working relationship with Ferrari,” he said. – By AZMAH ABIDIN
