As we got out of the taxi in Warrens, Barbados, the air was fresh with excitement. Roughly 20,000 fans had already crammed the area, pressing against the fences and finding their way to rooftops, walls and on friendly shoulders to grab a photo or zoom in with their camcorders. Marshals were also positioned at control points all along the road course. There was so much red we thought it might have been a Trini football match. Although it wasn't, we were glad for what it signified. Red is the characteristic colour of the most dominant force in Formula 1– Ferrari. Together with Shell, who partners with SOL Petroleum in the Caribbean region, the blitz and buzz was all about their new SOL/Shell developed V-Power® fuel and its ability to power a Ferrari Formula 1 car.

Our timing was exact, as we walked into the heavily restricted makeshift pit/refueling area, more popularly known as Shell Warrens Gas Station at precisely 10:10am. We were officially ten minutes late but thanks to accreditation made possible by Barry Gale, Antonio DaSilva and Robin Bradford and Christian Scherr, we were allowed into the pit area by the Police forces. Immediately after used our Jedi powers (the zorce), instructions were issued that no other media was to be allowed in. Martin Sharp was present with his media team as well as members of zhaust.com, our Bajan counterparts. From the moment we were in the camera was put to solid work and within 10 minutes, over 400 shots were taken– just for you... 

Interestingly enough, SOL (Simpson Oil Limited) Petroleum acquired the assets and teamed up with Shell Branding International to market and sell the Shell brand of Products shortly after the United Nations arbitrators ruled in a 116-page document to settle a fishing dispute between both islands. In the end, both sides claimed victory, however, with the clearer definition a maritime boundary, Trinidad & Tobago has given up major oil exploration/expansion potential to Barbados, now making petrochemical products a viable option for the Bajans. We hear that a mutually beneficial arrangement between the islands is being worked on. With all that in mind, if this kind of event is the result of SOL digging deeper into oil then we're all for it! Clearly, SOL, Shell and Ferrari know a thing or three about marketing. 

About 15 Ferrari engineers were around the car, making finals checks and adjustments while Ferrari test driver Marc Gené calmly waited for the 10:30 start. This particular F1 car was a 2005 model that weighs around 700kg and packs a 3-litre V-10 making 900hp at around 19,000rpm. For this particular test however, the car would be run to 18,000rpm, running on the new V-Power® fuel, straight out of the gas pump at the Shell Warrens Gas Station. This is the same fuel that will now be sold to consumers in the Caribbean region. It is said to be safe at up to 20,000rpm. According to Ferrari, no remapping was done to make the fuel more compatible. This is highly possible in our opinion since the existing fuel maps are driver-selectable using a simple dial on the steering wheel. Of course other things such as traction control and differential control can also be adjusted in this way by the driver during a race.

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At precisely 10:30am test driver Marc Gené donned his full-face helmet, fire-retardent facial sock, neck brace and gloves and clambered into the tight quarters of the 900hp Ferrari. The steering wheel had been removed by one of the pit crew to facilitate his ingress. As he strapped himself in we managed to get a signature "thumbs up" photo– our first attempt at communication while awestruck.

The car itself was fully unveiled as by now the competition must have figured out may things about this 2005 car. Normally at F1 meets certain parts are blanketed to avoid other teams grasping the knowledge just by looking at the car, at least until close to race time. The airport's fire truck and vacuum trucks were there to do their part along with a proper medical team in case of any emergency. The biggest concern of the Ferrari team earlier in the day was not rain or traction, those were things they were used to and had prepared for... It was in fact, getting their coffee. There was also a spare car, kept in the tent set up at Warrens Shell Station along with the bulk of all the Team's tools which was a 2004 model.

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Before starting however, there were issues that were managed by the marshals, officials and Team Ferrari engineers. One was loose concrete on the road which was removed by marshalls and the vacuum truck. With just 25mm of ground clearance, one can understand why this had to be done.

By now it was time to crank up the ignition. The car's engine is spun using an external electrically powered crank starter hooked up to a powerful, portable battery rack. At this level of racing, there is no point in carrying a heavy full-sized battery when every ounce of advantage counts. 

With the car still on its two portable, manually operated perches, the engine was fired up. Marc Gené gave it a few sharp burst of throttle, prompting the resident shutterbugs to fire even faster despite our inability to capture the sound. A camcorder would have been great at this point. The car was then lowered and manually rolled out to the red freshly painted start line just outside of the Shell Warrens Gas Station. 

Still containing full race gas, Marc would drive the car and make a few laps from Warrens roundabout to Automotive Art and back. According to a Bajan national, this journey should take on average about 20 minutes under regular road conditions with light traffic. As the car revved for warmup, some typically sensible Bajans were already putting on their earplugs while others preferred the raw unedited Ferrari V-10 soundtrack. The exhaust pipes even look like the famous Australian Opera House!