Barcelona, 28 Feb 2019 – PETRONAS Lubricants International (PLI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of PETRONAS, today introduced chemical engineer Stephanie Travers of the United Kingdom as the winner of its global search for a Trackside Fluid Engineer for Formula 1.
As one of two PETRONAS Trackside Fluid Engineers, twenty-four-year-old Stephanie Travers will provide five-time FIA Formula 1 World Constructors’ Champions, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Motorsport, with fluid support services at the twenty-one races on the 2019 calendar.
Travers beat 7,000 other applicants and successfully completed five rigorous levels of the selection process last year, culminating with an interview with PLI Group Chief Executive Officer Giuseppe D’Arrigo in Kuala Lumpur.
“We are delighted to welcome Stephanie on-board as our PETRONAS Trackside Fluid Engineer today. Since the start of our partnership with Mercedes-AMG, we have deployed engineers to operate in the PETRONAS Trackside Laboratory that travels with the team to every race throughout the season. These engineers represent the technical excellence of PETRONAS in Formula 1 and our commitment to building a pool of talent for the advancement of our fluid technology from track-to-road. PETRONAS employs the best and the brightest throughout the organisation, and I believe that Stephanie’s skillset, passion, determination and positive attitude will make her an incredible addition to our team,” said D’Arrigo.
PETRONAS Trackside Fluid Engineers conduct on-site performance analysis of the engine oils within the Formula 1 power unit, providing the team with real-time input about the health of the engine’s mechanical parts. They operate a compact lab for fluid-related service activities at race events around the world alongside the best engineers and scientists in the industry.
Travers, introduced to the media by PLI Group Technology Officer, Eric Holthusen, at the Circuit de Catalunya, will be mentored by incumbent trackside engineer Ahmad Nasri Mohd Shafie, who was also present.
“PETRONAS has contributed greatly to the performance and the reliability that is at the very heart of the success we’ve enjoyed over the past five seasons. PETRONAS has continuously raised the bar throughout our decade-long partnership, providing us with the technology and the technical expertise to give us a competitive advantage. The PETRONAS Trackside Fluid Engineer programme has been part of our partnership from the very beginning; it’s an important pillar in our hunt for performance and reliability. Having fluid engineers in the on-track laboratory gives us the opportunity to quickly analyse lubricants from the car and to respond to potential challenges in real-time. The programme has also become a great asset to find and develop talent in our highly competitive industry and I’m sure that Stephanie will further strengthen our team at the track. Welcome to the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Motorsport family, Stephanie!” said Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO of Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Motorsport.
As the technical partner of Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Motorsport since 2010, PETRONAS has co-engineered PETRONAS Technology Solutions™ which includes PETRONAS Primax fuel, PETRONAS Syntium engine oil and PETRONAS Tutela gearbox fluid, in close collaboration with the Mercedes-AMG works team and the Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP).
