New Pennzoil Ultra(TM) Named as Official Lubricant of American Le Mans Series Top Endurance Racing Team

HOUSTON, April 16 /PRNewswire/ -- In March of 2010, Ferrari named the new Pennzoil Ultra™ motor oil with Hyper Cleansing Technology™ as the only motor oil approved and recommended for use in all Ferrari engines in the United States.  As a next step in their long-standing relationship with Ferrari, Shell Oil Company announced Pennzoil Ultra™ will be the brand sponsor for the Risi Competizione American Le Mans Series team for the 2010 season. Through the sponsorship agreement, Pennzoil Ultra™, Shell's most advanced motor oil in North America, has been named the official lubricant of the team and Pennzoil Ultra™ 5W-40 will be the exclusive motor oil used in the team's two Ferrari 430GT racecars.

"We are very proud to have Pennzoil come on-board as a sponsor of the Risi Competizione team as we continue our quest for our third ALMS championship and eighth major endurance race," said Giuseppe Risi.  "Shell and Ferrari have an iconic relationship, and we hope the advanced technology of Pennzoil Ultra™ will provide us the advantage to drive our cars to the winner's circle."

Pennzoil Ultra™ is a new full synthetic motor oil that is engineered to maintain an engine as close to factory clean as possible. Made from an advanced proprietary synthetic formulation that includes Hyper Cleansing Technology™, Pennzoil Ultra™ is designed to exceed the toughest standards for engine cleanliness. Nothing helps keep an engine closer to factory clean.(1)

With engine tolerances and clearances measuring only thousandths of an inch and engines operating in high-temperature conditions, even a small build-up of deposits could diminish performance. Pennzoil Ultra™ motor oil can handle the challenge. This is why Ferrari recommends Pennzoil Ultra™ exclusively for Ferrari engines in the United States. Pennzoil Ultra™ SAE 5W-40 and 10W-60 have been tested and engineered to clean and protect Ferrari engines, even those used in ALMS.

Through Shell Oil Company's technical partnership with Ferrari, Pennzoil Ultra™ has been tested and engineered to clean and protect all engines, meeting and exceeding Ferrari's most stringent standards. "We at Pennzoil take great pride in the fact that Shell scientists work as a team with Ferrari in the Trackside Laboratory at each Formula One race, at the famous Ferrari factory in Italy and at Shell's R&D facilities in the United Kingdom and Germany," said Luis Guimaraes, VP, Shell Lubricants, Americas. "The technical partnership with Ferrari ultimately provides us with an environment for testing new lubricants in extreme conditions. This gives us a better understanding of what will deliver improved protection, performance and efficiency to help our motorsports technical partners excel and continue their winning ways."

For more than 60 years, Ferrari has been synonymous with high-performance cars, on the race track and the road. The company's confidence in Shell and its products dates back to the 1930s, when Shell began supporting Enzo Ferrari's motor racing activities. When the very first Ferrari drove out of the factory gates in Maranello, Italy in 1947, it was powered and protected by Shell products.  

Shell has a storied history of motorsports successes and is building on that legacy in 2010 with the announcement of Pennzoil Ultra™ as the brand sponsor of the Risi Competizione team.  For additional information, please visit www.Pennzoil.com.

About Pennzoil®

Pennzoil® is the #1-selling motor oil and one of the most trusted brands in America. The Pennzoil line of quality products meets or exceeds industry specifications to offer exceptional engine cleansing and protection, and includes Pennzoil Ultra™ motor oil with Hyper Cleansing Technology™, Pennzoil Platinum® Full Synthetic motor oil, Pennzoil® SUV, Truck & Minivan motor oil, Pennzoil® High Mileage Vehicle® motor oil, Pennzoil® motor oil, Pennzoil Marine® engine oil and Pennzoil® specialty oils.. For more information about Pennzoil products, please visit www.pennzoil.com

Pennzoil is produced and marketed by Shell Lubricants. The term 'Shell Lubricants' collectively refers to the companies of Royal Dutch Shell plc that are engaged in the lubricants business. Shell Lubricants companies lead the lubricants industry, supplying 13% of global lubricants volume.(2) The companies manufacture and blend products for use in applications ranging from consumer motor oil and food processing oils to heavy industrial lubricants and commercial transport oils. The Shell Lubricants portfolio of top-quality brands includes Pennzoil®, Quaker State®, FormulaShell®, Shell TELLUS®, Shell CASSIDA®, Shell RIMULA®, Shell ROTELLA® T, Shell SPIRAX®, a portfolio of leading car care brands and Jiffy Lube® lubrication services.

About Risi Competizione

Risi Competizione was founded in 1997 by Giuseppe Risi, owner and CEO of Ferrari of Houston and Maserati of Houston. Known then as Doyle Risi Racing, the team has progressed through the years winning many titles including the LMP1 category of the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans, completing a perfect season in the 2002 SRP II class in Grand Am Series for Rand Racing and winning last year's GT2 class 12 Hours Sebring, 24 Hours Le Mans and Petit Le Mans. Ever loyal to the ALMS, Risi Competizione will return with the Ferrari F430 GTC for a fifth consecutive season in 2010.

About Royal Dutch Shell plc

Royal Dutch Shell plc is incorporated in England and Wales, has its headquarters in The Hague and is listed on the London, Amsterdam, and New York stock exchanges. Shell companies have operations in more than 100 countries with businesses including oil and gas exploration and production; production and marketing of Liquefied Natural Gas and Gas to Liquids; manufacturing, marketing and shipping of oil products and chemicals and renewable energy projects including wind and solar power. For further information, visit www.shell.com.

(1) Based on Sequence VG sludge test using SAE 5W-30

(2) Kline & Company, "Competitive Intelligence for the Global Lubricants Industry, 2008 – 2018."

SOURCE Pennzoil