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First in synthetic lubricants Habot still races ahead

Established in the early 1980’s, West Rand lubricant blender and supplier, Habot Oil, introduced its Synergy range of synthetic lubricants in the early 1990s. Designed to make vehicles operate more efficiently with minimum mechanical wear and longer drain intervals; these revolutionary Habot oils proved the importance of running fully synthetic lubricants through performance on the race track in South African motorsport fifteen years ahead of their time.

Synthetic lubes are not refined by distilling crude oils. All Habot Synthetic lubricants are made from synthesised base oils with a controlled molecular structure, that guarantees consistent quality and oil elasticity. Boasting a film strength many times more than a conventional oil. Habot’s synthetic lubricants significantly reduce friction, that in turn results in the power unit running many degrees cooler, unlocking better use of the vehicle’s horsepower.

Habot synthetic lubes are guaranteed viscous for 40,000 km. Synergy oil not only resists the build-up of carbon, sludge and varnish, but it’s better detergency breaks down old build up and deposits too. 

Knowing this and faced with the challenge of marketing its advanced range of Synergy lubricants against a plethora of well-established brands, Habot Oil took to the racing circuit to prove it’s product’s worth. Its first foray into racing cars was, to sponsor Mark Edwards and his red Opel Kadett in Class E of the incredible Stannic Grp N standard production racing series. It was a winning start as Edwards took an emphatic national championship in the hard fought ‘brat pack’. 

Edwards’ title earned him a factory drive for Nissan in ‘94, while Habot Synergy went big, signing Class B regular Steve Corna and young Devon Juby, whom Edwards beat in the ’93 Class E title, to race a pair of Sentras in Grp N’s Class B. Corna and Juby enjoyed a strong season against the factory Nissans and Uno Turbos, before Habot turned its attention to two wheels for ’95. 

Habot Synergy backed Russell Wood and Shane Norval’s factory Hondas in the 250 GP class, and Lance Isaacs, Stewart and Brett MacLeod in 125 cc GP class. The move to two wheels was in line with Habot’s national campaign to market a full range of all forms of motorcycle lubricants and products.

Habot later worked with racer and journalist Michele Lupini to further prove the advantages of synthetic lubricants over a full race season through a series of magazine articles. That project included a stint in the Total Economy Run program, where those early successes saw Habot lubricants become a firm favourite among many competitors in that major fuel miser contest.

As time progressed, Habot’s business model moved more behind the scenes into major supply contracts, with its own brand as well as its principals, such as Nyco, specialising in military lubricants. That led to Habot’s appointment as the aeronautics-grade lubricant supplier of choice to the South African Air Force for use in all form of aircraft, from the Cheetah E fighter to the Rooivalk combat helicopter, with specialised lubricants imported from Nyco.

Habot Oil is a unique supplier of lubricants, not only in South Africa, but probably in the whole African Continent, that can supply the whole range of synthetic lubricants, military lubricants, lubricants for commercial airlines and general aviation, food grade lubricants made from renewable and plant based base oils as well as EALs, or Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants. Made from biodegradable and renewable, performance base oils, available Habot’s EALs are blended locally in South Africa. No other company, including multinationals, can match that.

While the company continues to lead the way in synthetic lubricants, Habot has always supported South African motorsport and motorsport in Africa. Today’s Habot drivers include SupaCup frontrunner Jeffrey Kruger’s Polo, Compcare Polo Cup Bullion IT young guns Jurie Swart and Giordano Lupini, and Pabar VW Challenge contender Stiaan Kriel’s Design Hut entry, among others.

All of these racing drivers insist on running Habot’s world-leading synthetic oils in their racing cars.

ENDS

Issued on behalf of Habot Oils

What:Habot Lubricants Racing History
Where:Krugersdorp
When:Since 1993
Community:South Africa National

For further information please contact adam@habot.co.za

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