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Shore joined Shell Global Solutions as a Technical Training Enterprise student. Five years later, she has graduated from university with a chemistry degree and is the coordinator for the analysis of lubricants and fuels from field trials at Cheshire Innovation Park, UK. I started to race cars in 2004, and this experience helps me to understand the importance of my analytical work, which is mainly on passenger-car lubricants. Racing gives me a special interest in car reliability, especially when I see the enormous effort that goes into running the track vehicles. We put a similar effort into our field trials; ultimately, our analytical work contributes to better lubricants to help improve car reliability.
The Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies (Shell) sponsored me through my studies and is now helping me to pursue my passion for circuit racing. I met my team owner at the Autosport International show in Birmingham. I told him about my desire to race cars, and he agreed to lend me a race-prepared Ford Focus. I took a lesson at a racing track and qualified for my racing licence on the same day. Now I compete at well-known UK tracks such as Oulton Park and Donington Park. It is a tremendously exciting hobby, and without the help from Shell and the understanding of my colleagues I would not be able to race.
My work is exciting too, and I am always satisfied when I can add value to the results that I present to customers. Occasionally we spot something that they have not noticed, or, if they are aware of a problem, it is always good to let them know that we are already thinking about its resolution.
Whether we are testing a new Shell formulation or analysing end-of-race samples for the Ferrari Formula One team, it is great to be involved in cutting-edge, innovative work. Some of my colleagues work in the mobile laboratory that performs trackside lubricant analysis for Ferrari. My job has not yet taken me to a Formula One race, but I enjoy the variety of what I do. I have two distinct challenges: to manage the field-trial samples and to develop our analytical methods. It is very rewarding when we come up with innovative ways of using our techniques so that they are better, smarter and quicker, and add value for our customers.
We are constantly looking for improvements in our analytical operations, and I have the same wish to improve on the track. My best race finish of 2004 was second in my class. I’m growing in experience with each race and want to reach the top this season.
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