It is a polluted October morning in Shanghai, and the roads are clogged with the traffic that ensnares every large Chinese city. But Ferrari’s guest room at the Shanghai International Circuit is a world apart.
The Italian carmaker shares the room with Shell the provider of the secret sauce behind its championship team.
Downstairs in Ferrari’s pit alongside the race track, Lisa Lilley, Shell’s Formula One technology manager, is getting ready for the Shanghai Grand Prix. Ms Lilley’s role is to ensure that Ferrari has the best possible fuel within the exacting guidelines of F1.
Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) rules for 2008 require at least 5.75 per cent of oxygenates to come from biological sources – the same amount that many European countries aim to have in their transportation fuel by the end of the year.
Shell has been investing in biofuels. It has formed a partnership with Canada’s Iogen to develop ethanol from lignocellulose, specifically wheat straw.
The oil giant is also developing high-performance synthetic fuel from lignocellulose, namely wood residue, with Choren of Germany.
“We’re trying to work with the FIA to encourage the introduction of second-generation biofuels in 2009 and 2010,” says Juan Carlos Perez, general manager for global sponsorships at Shell Brands International.
Even as standards tighten for F1 cars, the race is on to transfer the knowledge from the circuit to the road.
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