Ferrari Panamerican ends in New York

Eighty-five days after leaving tropical Brazil and criss-crossing the continents of the Americas , the Ferrari Panamerican 20,000 arrives in New York City today to complete an arduous 20,000-mile journey led by Ferrari’s latest supercar and fueled by Shell V-Power premium gasoline.

As the two Ferrari 599 GTB Fioranos complete the “mother of all road trips” today in the Big Apple, they also write another chapter in the long technical relationship between Shell and Ferrari. A Shell Technical Support Specialist shadowed the 620 horsepower cars every mile of their journey. Crossing the Andes and traveling through 16 nations, this bold expedition served as an extreme road challenge while introducing Ferrari’s latest supercar to the Americas .

The marathon relied on Shell V-Power premium gasoline throughout the tour, counting on the comprehensive Shell network of fuel stations along most of the route. The vehicles also used Shell Helix motor oil in South America and Q Advanced EngineÔ 10W60 Full Synthetic motor oil in the United States . The technology behind these lubricant products was developed with and for Ferrari. In fact, every Ferrari that leaves the historic Maranello , Italy , works is factory-filled with these Shell products, which are recommended by Ferrari. Q Advanced Engine™ 10W60 Full Synthetic motor oil is available in the United States at Ferrari dealerships.

The epic journey started in Brazil on Aug. 24 and made its way through seven South American countries before crossing into the Central American nations of Panama , Costa Rica , Nicaragua , Honduras , El Salvador and Guatemala . Reaching North America by crossing Mexico , the Panamerican 20,000 then entered the United States in late October and traversed the USA and Canada before reaching its final stage in Manhattan today

The dedicated Shell Technical Support Specialist provided refueling logistics assistance and ensured supplies of motor oil. Technicians sampled the motor oil regularly throughout the trip to study its condition and the internal condition of the Ferrari V12 engines.

At the start of the journey, each of the two supercars was filled with 12 liters (3 gallons) of Shell Helix motor oil and 80 liters (21 gallons) Shell V-Power fuel. Shell Helix and Q Advanced EngineÔ 10W60 Full Synthetic motor oils were developed to cope with the extra demands of modern high-revving engines to help keep them clean and protected regardless of the terrains on which they run.

>Shell V-Power technology is a result of years of development with Ferrari. The fuel technology behind the product is put to the test throughout the Formula One season, but this is one of the most rigorous road tests of Shell V-Power. The team had used approximately 2,900 liters (766 gallons) of fuel when it hit the halfway mark in Mexico . Refueling became a major challenge when the Ferrari 599 GTB Fioranos drove through remote, unpopulated stretches of countryside without a single Shell station along the route. The Panamerican then relied on Shell logistics to provide fuel by tankers and barrels of Shell V-Power premium gasoline.

Beyond the challenge of Ferrari’s most powerful cars, the Panamerican 20,000 was also an exchange among cultures. Many communities had never seen a Ferrari before, so it was amazing to see a little Chilean boy with a Ferrari T-shirt welcome the convoy to his village. The team rode local trains to Machu Picchu and drove past ox-pulled carts in Costa Rica before spending three days without the cars in Panama while they were shipped from Cartagena de Indias , visiting Indigenous Reserves and learning the local tribal dances. 

Everywhere they went, the team members came across Ferrari fanatics who joined the convoy with their own Prancing Horses. On one occasion, fans guided the Panamerican team to the famous Mexican Avenida La Reforma. Ferrari clubs and Shell employees throughout the Americas were invited to join celebrations and refueling events, whether in Belo Horizonte, Guatemala City, Los Angeles, Houston, Washington, D.C., or Toronto where the Ferrari 599 GTB Fioranos were rejuvenated with Shell V-Power premium gasoline and either Shell Helix or Q Advanced Engine 10W60 motor oil.

Armed with sombreros, sampoñas and unforgettable memories, the Panamerican 20,000 team arrived on American soil and passed through the gaming capital of Las Vegas before arriving in time to celebrate Halloween in Houston, the U.S. headquarters of Shell. Houston ’s City Controller, Annise D. Parker, proclaimed to Shell that Oct. 31, 2006, would be remembered as “Ferrari Panamerican 20,000 Day” in the city of Houston .

Finally arriving in New York, the two 599s will have endured temperatures ranging from 35 C (95 F) in Latin America to 2 C (36 F) in Canada – the success of the trip owing in great part to the high-quality Shell fuel and motor oils used along the way. This ambitious journey once again proved the strong technical collaboration that Shell and Ferrari have enjoyed for the past 60 years.