Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Motorsport and PETRONAS Lubricants International (PLI), today introduced Stephanie Travers as the successful candidate following their global search for a new Trackside Fluid Engineer. As one of two PETRONAS Trackside Fluid Engineers, the 24-year-old engineer will provide the team with a comprehensive suite of fluid support services at all 21 races on the 2019 calendar.
The search for a new member of the PETRONAS Motorsport technical team opened in July 2018, receiving over 7,000 applications worldwide. Stephanie successfully completed a five-stage selection process, including an interview with PLI Group Chief Executive officer, Giuseppe D’Arrigo, in Kuala Lumpur.
“We are delighted to welcome Stephanie on-board as a new PETRONAS Trackside Fluid Engineer today,” said D’Arrigo.
“Since the start of the partnership with Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS, 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 One and the company’s 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 company and I believe that Stephanie’s skillset, passion, determination and positive attitude will make her an incredible addition to our team.”
“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,” said Toto Wolff, Team Principal & CEO of Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Motorsport.
“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!”
PETRONAS Trackside Fluid Engineers conduct on-site performance analysis of the lubricants in the Power Unit and transmission, providing the team with real-time input about the engine’s health. They operate from a compact lab for fluid-related service activities at race events around the globe, alongside the best engineers and scientists in the industry.
Stephanie, who was introduced to the media by PLI Group Technology Officer, Eric Holthusen, at the Circuit de Catalunya, will be mentored by incumbent PETRONAS Trackside Fluid Engineer, Ahmad Nasri Mohd Shafie, who was also present.
As a technical partner of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Motorsport since 2010, PETRONAS has co-engineered PETRONAS Primax fuel, PETRONAS Syntium engine oil and PETRONAS Tutela gearbox fluid, in close collaboration with the Mercedes-AMG works team, Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP), and PETRONAS Technology Solutions™.
Photographs by Daimler AG.