BP Fuel Technology – Growing South African Motorsport

Last week BP opened a new fuel technology centre in Joburg costing an estimated R40m that is similar to other such centres in Germany and the US. In the past year alone BP has spent around R500m developing their brand in South Africa developing its forecourt infrastructure, expanding fuel delivery capability and optimising refinement capabilities in SA.

The new centre is aimed at maintaining fuel quality standards as well as producing differentiated fuels specifically for the South African Market. Tufan Erginbilgic, BP’s Chief Operating Officer, Refining and Marketing boasts that BP is “the only oil company to date which is able to quantify its fuel economy claim.” Independent tests have shown that using BP Ultimate Unleaded can give motorists up to an extra 25km per tank and BP Ultimate Diesel up to an extra 36km per tank compared to ordinary fuel.

BP was also the first oil company in South Africa to develop a special 98 high-octane racing fuel specifically for the local motorsport environment. This advanced fuel technology is used by the Volkswagen rally team who won their sixth consecutive national Rally title in a gripping championship final last month.

In a nail-biting season finale, BP Volkswagen Rally team Enzo Kuun and his navigator Guy Hodgson were eliminated from the competition just 5oo metres into the third leg when they slid off the road into thick brush. It was then up to their rivals Johnny Gemmell and Drew Sturrock of Toyota who needed to win the leg to claim the season. However it was not to be as Charl Wilken and Greg Godrich of Ford claimed victory on the day. So the season went to Kuun and BP Volkswagen due to a massive 21 point lead built up throughout the course of the year.

The Joburg fuel technology centre consists of a fuels quality testing lab, customer engagement/technical service facility as well as staff training facilities. Here, South African graduates will be trained in this highly specialised field, representing a major investment in the future of South Africa and demonstrates the BP Group’s continued commitment the country.

BP remains as South Africa’s favourite fuel brand for the tenth consecutive year, as voted for by consumers in the Sunday Times Top Brands Awards.

Jed Coventry
Photo Credit: Motorpics and Quickpic
Exerts taken from BP press release