190 guests from 23 countries, including 5 lucky Shell Helix customers and a journalist from Malaysia, had their driving skills tested to the limits at the recent Shell Helix Driven to Extremes World Championship in South Africa. Shell Helix contest winners Ms Chew Yeah Fah, 30, from Petaling Jaya; Mr Ching Chi Yee, 31, from Puchong; Mr Ho Chee Kin, 33, from Kajang; Mr Ho Yung Shih, 32, from Kuala Lumpur; and Encik Sarfarizal Md Saad, 36, from Lumut; together with journalist Mr Gan Yong Li formed the Malaysian team that took part in the unique competition.
The bespoke series of extreme driving and expedition challenges was created by Shell Helix to give guests a taste of the tasks and obstacles faced by the professional drivers and celebrities in the Shell Helix Driven to Extremes television series.
Guests competed in two days of extreme driving challenges and expedition tasks designed to assess their ability across different terrain, including sand dunes and mountain tracks, receiving expert tuition from professional driving instructors along the way. Driver concentration and awareness were put to the test in a number of precision and finesse driving challenges, as was the ability to work as a team to complete various simulated expedition challenges, including a bridge build and a water retrieval task.
The African adventure was not just limited to activities behind the wheel, as guests were treated to five-star accommodation, exclusive dinners, traditional South African entertainment and the opportunity to explore the iconic sights of the Cape and the spectacular Table Mountain.
Although the Malaysians gamely tried their best, it was not good enough and Germany was crowned the 2013 Shell Helix Driven to Extremes World Championship’s best overall extreme driving nation.
“It has been a very exciting few days here in Cape Town and it is amazing for us to be able to host so many of our customers from around the world for such an exciting adventure. All of the competitors here in South Africa have had the best training available to them. They have gained an appreciation of how hard the engine works in extreme environments and the importance of oil selection to help optimise the engine’s performance in these conditions. It has been wonderful to see how much our guests have enjoyed their stay in Cape Town and I am proud that Shell Helix has been able to offer them such a fantastic experience,”said Leila Prati, Shell Helix Global Brand Manager.
The Shell Helix “Can You Handle the Extreme?” contest held from March 1 to May 31, 2013, was open to customers who purchased a four-litre pack of Shell Helix Ultra fully synthetic motor oil or from the Shell Helix HX7 synthetic technology range that includes the HX7, HX7 E and HX7 Diesel.
According to Mr Alex Lim, Cluster Marketing Manager, Shell Lubricants SEA-South, the Shell Helix Global Promotion had become a much-looked-forward-to annual event with its exciting interactive format and spectacular prizes.
“At Shell Helix, we aim to reward our customers with memorable experiences that no other lubricant brand can offer. This year’s amazing South African experience is just one example. We have yet another thrilling event in 2014, so be on the lookout,” he said.
Shell Helix is committed to its research and development, investing heavily to ensure its engine oils are tested in the world’s most challenging conditions. The learning’s gained from such extreme product testing are then applied to benefit Shell Helix customers and offer them the most advanced lubricant products available in the world.
