Castrol SYNTEC Outperformers Program Looking for America's Most Passionate Young Automotive Students and Car Lovers

Initiative Designed to Attract More Young People to Automotive Service Careers And Recognize the Finest Automotive Service Students in America

Las Vegas, Nov. 4 -- Castrol SYNTEC announced today an initiative to attract more of America's most passionate young car lovers to careers as automotive technicians -- and to recognize young men and women already serving as automotive service students -- as part of its Castrol SYNTEC Outperformers program.

The Castrol SYNTEC Outperformers program will provide four regional winners with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit the headquarters of legendary drag racer John Force, while one individual chosen from the four who "outperforms" the nation's top students and car lovers will receive a $7,500 scholarship to attend a racing and high performance program. Primedia, America's foremost automotive enthusiast publisher, will also open its southern California automotive facilities, where the company repairs, modifies and creates the spectacular vehicles that appear on the pages of Hot Rod, Chevy High Performance, Mustang 5.0 and dozens of other automotive magazines. The regional winners will also receive:

   --  Two tickets to the 40th annual Automobile Club of southern California
       NHRA Finals in Pomona to be held the weekend of Nov. 13, 2004
   --  A year's supply (four cases) of Castrol SYNTEC motor oil
   --  A SYNTEC Outperformers hat and t-shirt
   --  A framed certificate recognizing successful completion of the
       curriculum in synthetic motor oils

The Castrol SYNTEC Outperformers program is open to any man or woman, ages 16 to 22, who visits www.syntecoutperformers.com and completes a special educational curriculum about synthetic oils and a series of questions surrounding the topic of automotive service and passion for cars. Castrol will begin accepting entries Jan. 1, 2004, with the program closing on midnight April 15, 2004. Serving as judges will be legendary racer John Force and select representatives of the automotive industry and media.

The Castrol SYNTEC Outperformers program expands a similar initiative conducted in 2003 in which Castrol identified and recognized the finest automotive service students in America. Daniel Gilbert of Houston, Texas, was selected as the national winner of the Castrol GTX Top Techs program.

According to Mike DeBiasi, Castrol SYNTEC marketing manager, the 2004 Castrol SYNTEC Outperformers program elevates the 2003 program by not only identifying the finest automotive service students, but also encouraging individuals who love to work on cars and enjoy racing to consider automotive service as a career. "The Castrol SYNTEC Outperfomers program addresses an issue that will impact everyone who drives a car or a truck -- the shortage of automotive technicians," DeBiasi said. "The Outperformers program will encourage more young people to look at automotive service as a fun, financially rewarding career, while also highlighting the smart, hard-working, dedicated automotive service students who represent the future of our industry."

The Castrol SYNTEC Outperfomers program also addresses the lack of knowledge about motor oils and the impact of synthetic motor oil on vehicle and engine performance and protection. "Motor oil serves to protect the most important part of a vehicle, the engine. Yet research has shown that few in the motoring public have much knowledge of motor oil, nor do they even understand the role of motor oil," DeBiasi said. "The Castrol SYNTEC Outperfomers program will help educate young automotive service students and automotive enthusiasts about motor oil, so that when they're working in repair shops and dealerships across America, they can serve as credible, knowledgeable source of information for the driving public."

New to the Castrol SYNTEC Outperformers program is an award to recognize the automotive instructor with the most students completing the SYNTEC curriculum and entering the contest. The instructor will receive a trip for two to southern California to tour John Force Racing headquarters, two tickets to the 40th annual Automobile Club of southern California NHRA Finals in Pomona the weekend of Nov. 13, 2004, a Castrol racing jacket and hat, and a donation of 50 cases of Castrol SYNTEC motor oil for classroom use.

Students or educators with questions about the program should call 312-397-6018 or e-mail their questions to Anthony.Astran@ogilvypr.com . Official rules are available at www.syntecoutperformers.com .

Castrol is a global leader in marketing premium automotive product brands such as Castrol SYNTEC, Castrol SYNTEC Blend, Castrol GTX, Castrol GTX High Mileage and Castrol Super Clean. Castrol North America markets its lubricants and services to lube operators, automotive service providers and select retailers in North America. Castrol, the automotive marketing and technology leader with more than 100 years' experience, offers world-class retailer and installer support under one united global brand. Call 1-888-CASTROL or visit www.castrolusa.com .

NOTE TO EDITORS: The Castrol SYNTEC Outperformers program logo, as well as photos of John Force, Castrol GTX Top Techs national winner Daniel Gilbert, the Castrol SYNTEC product and other related items, are available via e-mail upon request. Please contact Tony Astran at 312-397-6058 or anthony.astran@ogilvypr.com for more information.