Berg+Schmidt Showcases Innovation and Racing Spirit at Lubricant Expo Düsseldorf

Berg+Schmidt made a big impression at this year's Lubricant Expo in Düsseldorf, combining industry expertise with racing excitement. Our stand was a hub of activity, with engaging discussions about our products and the debut of BergaGuard, our innovative water-soluble corrosion inhibitor that offers a sustainable alternative to traditional products.

Experience the Thrill of Racing

The highlight of our exhibit was undoubtedly the race simulator, which gave visitors a taste of the adrenaline-pumping action experienced by our sponsored team, Girls Only Racing by WS Racing. This all-female racing team, born out of a vision to challenge gender norms in motorsport. Do you want to know the whole story behind the creation of an all-female racing team?

The idea of forming an all-female racing team first came up at the track in 2015. At that time the concept wasn't fully developed and WS Racing didn't have the capacity to pursue it due to other projects. Nicole Willems, wife of WS Racing Team Manager Thorsten Willems, had been accompanying her husband to the Nürburgring for a long time, although she had no particular interest in motorsport. Her role was mainly to provide support and moral encouragement to the team.

In the spring of 2018, Nicole revisited the idea of an all-female team when she noticed the lack of women in technical roles in the pits. She wondered why there couldn't be a competitive all-female team. The timing was perfect, and she and her husband developed a concept, securing Volkswagen as a communications partner and GITI Tire Germany as the main partner. A casting call selected 20 women to form the team, and qualified drivers were quickly identified. Through team building and car training, they developed a cohesive unit that will debut in a VW Golf GTI TCR at the Nürburgring in 2019 and win their class at the Nürburgring 24 Hours in 2021 with an Audi R8 LMS GT4.

All-female teams in endurance racing are not new, but WS Racing has reinvigorated the idea by fielding an all-female team both in and out of the cockpit. Their focus is on athletic success, and they are working hard to make a major breakthrough.

Performance Chemicals in Action

As well as entertaining, our simulator demonstrated the real-world impact of our performance chemicals. The fastest lap time of 2:01 minutes on the virtual Nürburgring track set a high bar for next year's show. To add to the excitement, we held a prize draw for two VIP tickets to a WS Racing event at the Nürburgring, with the lucky winner already looking forward to attending with his family.
This unique blend of industrial innovation and motorsport excitement perfectly encapsulates Berg+Schmidt's commitment to driving performance in both racing and industrial applications. We're already looking forward to next year's show!