Record-Breaking Couple Attempt to Set a New World Record for Fuel Efficiency

on Less Than Fifty Tanks

Drivers Invited to Follow Journey Online and Learn How 'FuelStretch' Driving

Principles Can Help Them Get the Most Out of Every Fuel Purchase

LONDON, Jan. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting today, John and Helen Taylor
will embark on the ultimate road trip around the world in an attempt
to set a new Guinness World Record for fuel efficiency. This husband
and wife duo plan to cover approximately 18,000 miles, across 25
countries, in 70 days -- all on less than 50 tanks of Shell gasoline
specially-formulated using a next- generation fuel technology.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060117/CGTU061 )

The journey will begin at 10:00 a.m. GMT (5:00 a.m. EST) in London at
Waterloo Place, followed by the Taylors gaining inspiration as they
drive by The Reform Club -- the famed spot where the legendary Phileas
Fogg began his fictional journey "Around the World in 80 Days." The
Taylors are expected to log up to 620 miles each day, and will arrive
in San Francisco in early March to begin the U.S. leg of the journey,
making additional U.S. stops in Los Angeles and New York.

As Americans await the Taylor's arrival in the U.S. they can follow
the journey online at http://www.fuelchallenge.com . The Web site will
provide daily statistics, highlights of the Taylor's journey, mileage
records, daily blog entries from the Taylors, photos, and background
on "FuelStretch," a program Shell is offering to its customers, to
help them make the most out of every fuel purchase they make.

The Expertise and Tools Behind the Record Attempt

John and Helen are -- arguably -- the world's most fuel-efficient
drivers. Holders of 34 notable fuel economy driving achievements (more
than any other couple in the world), the Taylor's global venture will
be their biggest challenge to date. By the time they return to London
in late March, they will have traveled across Europe, Asia, Australia
and the United States.

The Taylors approached Shell in 2004 to see if the company would
participate in the world's biggest fuel-efficiency record attempt.
They chose Shell to be their exclusive gasoline provider after testing
several commercially-available fuels. The Taylors believe that using
Shell gasoline and incorporating the FuelStretch Money-Saving Fuel
Tips will help them maximize their fuel efficiency and set a Guinness
World Record that will be very difficult to break.

"This is a lifetime's ambition for Helen and me. It's the toughest
economy record attempt we've undertaken, and given the huge variety of
terrain we'll be crossing, it's the ultimate test of our ability to
drive economically," says John. "Helen and I are confident that by
implementing some simple driving tips for fuel efficiency and using a
next-generation fuel technology from Shell, we will be successful in
setting a strong record."

The driving tips the Taylors will be using on their journey are now
available to drivers at Shell stations across the U.S. through the
Shell FuelStretch initiative. The company is offering the FuelStretch
program to help its customers make the most out of every fuel
purchase. FuelStretch includes money-saving driving tips, a credit
card that helps drivers earn gasoline rebates on very purchase, and
innovative fuels that are specially formulated to keep engines clean.

FuelStretch tips are available at the pump and inside the store, and
they are being promoted through point-of-purchase materials, online
advertising and additional support locally.

Details of the Global Road Trip

John and Helen will be driving a Volkswagen Golf FSI 1.6. It is VW's
standard Golf model, which is representative of cars you can find on
the road today. The Taylor's car will be accompanied by a crew
trailing in two Volkswagen Passat Estates. The crew will include an
independent witness, a videographer to document the journey, a writer
to help chronicle the Taylor's adventures, and two Volkswagen support
personnel.

For the attempt to qualify as an official Guinness World Record, John
and Helen must travel in one direction only, covering a distance of at
least 18,000 miles, but no more than the full length of the Equator.
The car needs to be a standard production model. There are 18 other
strict rules covering antipodal points, East/West co-ordinates,
independent adjudication, log books, witnesses, pre-travel engineering
checks, and driving times.

The Taylors and crew will spend up to 14 hours a day on the road,
driving both day and night, while adhering to strict health and safety
guidelines. They will also follow a strict and limited eating regime
to minimize the risk of illness that could affect achieving the
record. One break for the couple, however, will come mid-journey, when
they will stop at home in Melbourne, Australia, to attend their
daughter's wedding.

Says Helen, "After raising three children, we see this record attempt
as a chance to find some peace on the road and spend some serious
quality time together."

"This is an exciting and dynamic undertaking for the Taylors, and
Shell is proud to be part of it," says Bruce Rosengarten, Shell's Vice
President of Global Retail Marketing. "It is a chance to show people
how they can move better around the world, while also putting a Shell
next-generation fuel technology to the ultimate road test."

"We're excited about this new challenge as it represents the most
ambitious global fuel efficiency record attempt to date," says Craig
Glenday, editor of Guinness World Records. "It's a timely
representation of what attempting a Guinness World Record is all about
-- pushing the boundaries of human and technological achievement while
carrying along with it some helpful tips to demonstrate how every
driver can save money on fuel."

So don't expect the Taylors to depart London on their extraordinary
adventure in a blaze of burning rubber. Their gentle departure with an
easy foot on the pedal will ensure that they cruise around the world
at a comfortable speed to achieve their fuel efficiency goal -- and
help them avoid any traffic violations that could invalidate the
entire record attempt.

Shell Oil Products US, a subsidiary of Shell Oil Company, is a leader
in the refining, transportation and marketing of fuels, and has a
network of approximately 6,600 branded gasoline stations in the
Western United States. Shell Oil Company is an affiliate of the Shell
Group [(NYSE: RDS.A) and (NYSE: RDS.B)]. For more information, please
visit http://www.shell.com . Motiva Enterprises LLC refines and
markets branded products through more than 9,000 branded stations in
the Eastern and Southern United States. Shell Oil Company is a 50
percent owner of Motiva Enterprises LLC, along with Saudi Refining,
Inc.

Royal Dutch Shell plc

Royal Dutch Shell plc is incorporated in England and Wales, has its
headquarters in The Hague and is listed on the London, Amsterdam, and
New York stock exchanges. Shell companies have operations in more than
145 countries with businesses including oil and gas exploration and
production; production and marketing of Liquefied Natural Gas and Gas
to Liquids; manufacturing, marketing and shipping of oil products and
chemicals and renewable energy projects including wind and solar
power. For further information, visit http://www.shell.com .

CONTACTS:

(U.S.) Erica Saviano (212) 642-7738 Erica.Saviano@Edelman.com

(UK) Stuart Kirby +44(0)20 7208 7226 Stuart_Kirby@jcpr.com SOURCE
Shell Oil Company