# Castrol
**Castrol** is a British brand of lubricants, greases, and related fluids for automotive, marine, industrial, and energy applications, headquartered in the United Kingdom and founded in 1899 by Charles "Cheers" [Wakefield](https://www.edgepedia.org/wakefield) as CC Wakefield & Company.[1](https://www.castrol.com/en_au/australia/home/about-castrol/our-heritage.html) The brand name comes from castor oil, a vegetable oil made from castor beans that Wakefield's researchers added to early motor oils to keep them fluid at start-up and stable at high temperatures.[1](https://www.castrol.com/en_au/australia/home/about-castrol/our-heritage.html) • [2](https://www.castrol.com/content/dam/castrol/business-sites-new/en/global/corporate/documents/industries/industrial-solutions-sales-presenters/industrial-solutions-sales-presenter-french-generic.pdf) Castrol was owned by bp from 2000; in December 2025 bp agreed to sell a 65% shareholding to the investment firm [Stonepeak](https://www.edgepedia.org/stonepeak) at an enterprise value of approximately USD 10 billion, with completion expected by the end of 2026.[3](https://www.castrol.com/content/dam/castrol/country-sites-new/en_in/india/home/documents/investors/press-release-from-bp-plc.pdf)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1899 by Charles "Cheers" Wakefield as CC Wakefield & Company, selling lubricants for trains and heavy machinery[1](https://www.castrol.com/en_au/australia/home/about-castrol/our-heritage.html) |
| Name origin | Castor oil added to early motor oil formulations; the "Castrol" brand name is registered and derived from its castor oil ingredients[1](https://www.castrol.com/en_au/australia/home/about-castrol/our-heritage.html) • [2](https://www.castrol.com/content/dam/castrol/business-sites-new/en/global/corporate/documents/industries/industrial-solutions-sales-presenters/industrial-solutions-sales-presenter-french-generic.pdf) |
| Ownership changes | Burmah Oil bought Castrol in 1966; bp acquired Burmah Castrol on July 7, 2000 for $4.8 billion[1](https://www.castrol.com/en_au/australia/home/about-castrol/our-heritage.html) • [4](https://www.companiesmarketcap.com/bp/sec-reports-20f/0000313807-01-000011/) |
| 2025 sale | bp agreed to sell 65% to Stonepeak at an enterprise value of about $10 billion; total net proceeds to bp of c.$6 billion, to be used to reduce net debt[3](https://www.castrol.com/content/dam/castrol/country-sites-new/en_in/india/home/documents/investors/press-release-from-bp-plc.pdf) |
| Product range | Car and recreational vehicle, motorcycle, commercial vehicle, industrial, marine, energy, and data center & IT cooling lines[5](https://www.castrol.com/en/global/corporate/products.html) |
| Motorsport record | The World Land Speed Record was broken 23 times, 18 of them using Castrol, including Henry Segrave and Malcolm Campbell in Bluebird[2](https://www.castrol.com/content/dam/castrol/business-sites-new/en/global/corporate/documents/industries/industrial-solutions-sales-presenters/industrial-solutions-sales-presenter-french-generic.pdf) |
| Space and subsea | Castrol Braycote space-grade lubricants support the Artemis Programme; subsea control fluids operate up to 3000 m below sea level and at temperatures as low as -60°C[6](https://www.castrol.com/) • [7](https://www.castrol.com/en/global/corporate/about-castrol/castrol-in-space/castrol-on-earth.html) |
## Origins and early history
Wakefield left a job at Vacuum Oil, an American steam cylinder oil manufacturer, in 1899 and started a new business in London with eight colleagues, selling lubricants for trains and heavy machinery.[1](https://www.castrol.com/en_au/australia/home/about-castrol/our-heritage.html) • [8](https://www.castrolshop.co.kr/service/company.php) Early in the new century the company turned to the automobile and the aeroplane, engines that needed oils runny enough to work from cold at start-up and thick enough to keep working at very high temperatures. Adding a measure of castor oil did the trick, and the new product was called "Castrol."
The company also pioneered sponsorship as a marketing method. The Castrol name appeared on banners and flags at competitive aviation events, auto races, and land speed record attempts.[1](https://www.castrol.com/en_au/australia/home/about-castrol/our-heritage.html) In 1919 John Alcock and Arthur Brown chose Castrol to lubricate their engine on the first trans-Atlantic flight.[1](https://www.castrol.com/en_au/australia/home/about-castrol/our-heritage.html) By 1960 the oil's name had eclipsed that of the founder, and CC Wakefield & Company became Castrol Ltd.[1](https://www.castrol.com/en_au/australia/home/about-castrol/our-heritage.html)
## Ownership
**Burmah and bp.** The Burmah Oil Company bought Castrol in 1966.[1](https://www.castrol.com/en_au/australia/home/about-castrol/our-heritage.html) At the time of BP Amoco's 2000 acquisition, Castrol was a UK-based diversified group making finished lubricants and chemicals, with a worldwide turnover of EUR 4,468 million.[9](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32000M1891) BP acquired Burmah Castrol on July 7, 2000 for $4.8 billion in cash, and communicated its intention to shed most of Castrol's chemical business while strengthening its lubricants position with Castrol's brand and research.[4](https://www.companiesmarketcap.com/bp/sec-reports-20f/0000313807-01-000011/) • [9](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32000M1891)
**The Stonepeak transaction.** On December 24, 2025, bp announced an agreement to sell a 65% shareholding in Castrol's global lubricants business to Stonepeak, a New York-based alternative investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets, at an enterprise value of approximately USD 10 billion.[3](https://www.castrol.com/content/dam/castrol/country-sites-new/en_in/india/home/documents/investors/press-release-from-bp-plc.pdf) • [10](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52026M12354) bp retains a 35% interest through a holding in a newly incorporated entity, and total net proceeds to bp of c.$6 billion, including accelerated dividend payments, are to be fully used to reduce net debt.[3](https://www.castrol.com/content/dam/castrol/country-sites-new/en_in/india/home/documents/investors/press-release-from-bp-plc.pdf) The sale forms part of bp's previously announced $20 billion divestment program.[3](https://www.castrol.com/content/dam/castrol/country-sites-new/en_in/india/home/documents/investors/press-release-from-bp-plc.pdf) After a two-year lock-up period, bp has the option to sell its 35% stake.[11](https://cincodias.elpais.com/companias/2025-12-24/bp-vende-el-65-de-castrol-a-stonepeak-por-5000-millones-de-euros.html)
Regulatory clearances followed: the European Commission declared the concentration compatible with the common market on June 15, 2026,[12](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1782489772389&uri=CELEX%3A32026M12354) and the Namibian Competition Commission determined the merger on April 28, 2026.[13](https://www.nacc.com.na/mergers-and-acquisitions/determined/2026mar0019mer) In bp's accounts at June 30, 2026, Castrol assets held for sale had a carrying amount of $4,453 million, including $2,713 million of goodwill from the 2000 acquisition, and the transaction was expected to complete by the end of 2026.[14](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/313807/000031380726000016/bp-20260630.htm) Effective July 15, 2026, the US legal entity changed its name from BP Lubricants USA Inc. to Castrol Lubricants USA Inc.[15](https://www.castrol.com/en_us/united-states/home/castrol-same-trusted-partner-new-momentum-for-the-future.html)
## Products and sectors
Castrol's branded lines cover car and recreational vehicles, motorcycles, commercial vehicles, industrial equipment, marine, energy, and data center and IT cooling.[5](https://www.castrol.com/en/global/corporate/products.html) Automotive brands include Castrol EDGE, a full synthetic engine oil line that the company markets as surpassing OEM and industry specification limits across seven performance factors: engine power, endurance, high temperature performance, pressure, wear, cleanliness, and fuel economy.[16](https://www.castrol.com/en/global/corporate/products/our-brands/cars/castrol-edge.html) Industrial products include chain oils, compressor oils, gear oils, greases, hydraulic fluids, and turbine oils, alongside metalworking fluids such as cleaners, neat oils, and soluble coolants.[17](https://www.castrol.com/en/global/corporate/products/castrol-industrial-products-and-services.html)
**Extreme environments.** Castrol's space-grade lubricants, sold as Braycote greases and Brayco oils, are formulated for vacuum environments and support NASA missions and the Artemis Programme.[6](https://www.castrol.com/) • [7](https://www.castrol.com/en/global/corporate/about-castrol/castrol-in-space/castrol-on-earth.html) NASA's Curiosity rover began its 2012 mission on Mars lubricated by a Castrol grease.[1](https://www.castrol.com/en_au/australia/home/about-castrol/our-heritage.html) In the aerospace field, Castrol claims several firsts: being the pioneer in achieving successful lubrication of a jet engine, creating the earliest jet turbine oil with corrosion inhibition, and lubricating a cabin supercharger before anyone else.[7](https://www.castrol.com/en/global/corporate/about-castrol/castrol-in-space/castrol-on-earth.html) Its subsea control fluids operate at depths of up to 3000 m, at extreme pressures and temperatures as low as -60°C, lubricating valves through umbilical cables as long as 125 km.[7](https://www.castrol.com/en/global/corporate/about-castrol/castrol-in-space/castrol-on-earth.html)
## Motorsport and sponsorship
Since 1906 the business has been built around supporting record breakers on land, water, and in the air, and Castrol describes motorsport as central to its brand.[18](https://castrol-com-test3.navitas.bpglobal.com/en_in/india/home/about-castrol/corporate-partnerships/motorsport-partnerships.html) Its motorcycle racing history runs from the first [Isle of Man TT](https://www.edgepedia.org/isle-of-man-tt) in 1907 through a relationship with Honda begun in 1958; in 2023 Castrol partnered the LCR Honda Castrol MotoGP team running a 1000cc Honda RC213V for Alex Marquez.[18](https://castrol-com-test3.navitas.bpglobal.com/en_in/india/home/about-castrol/corporate-partnerships/motorsport-partnerships.html) The company also sponsors the Jaguar TCS Racing Formula E team.[18](https://castrol-com-test3.navitas.bpglobal.com/en_in/india/home/about-castrol/corporate-partnerships/motorsport-partnerships.html)
## References
1. [Our history, Castrol Australia](https://www.castrol.com/en_au/australia/home/about-castrol/our-heritage.html)
2. [Castrol industrial solutions sales presenter, Castrol](https://www.castrol.com/content/dam/castrol/business-sites-new/en/global/corporate/documents/industries/industrial-solutions-sales-presenters/industrial-solutions-sales-presenter-french-generic.pdf)
3. [bp agrees to sell a 65% shareholding in Castrol to Stonepeak at an enterprise value of $10 billion, bp press release](https://www.castrol.com/content/dam/castrol/country-sites-new/en_in/india/home/documents/investors/press-release-from-bp-plc.pdf)
4. [BP 20-F annual report 2000](https://www.companiesmarketcap.com/bp/sec-reports-20f/0000313807-01-000011/)
5. [Products, Castrol global](https://www.castrol.com/en/global/corporate/products.html)
6. [Castrol global home](https://www.castrol.com/)
7. [Castrol on Earth, Castrol global](https://www.castrol.com/en/global/corporate/about-castrol/castrol-in-space/castrol-on-earth.html)
8. [캐스트롤샵 company page, Castrol Shop Korea](https://www.castrolshop.co.kr/service/company.php)
9. [Commission Decision of 18 May 2000, Case IV/M.1891 BP Amoco/Castrol, EUR-Lex](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32000M1891)
10. [Prior notification of a concentration, Case M.12354 Stonepeak/Castrol, EUR-Lex](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52026M12354)
11. [BP vende el 65% de Castrol a Stonepeak, Cinco Días](https://cincodias.elpais.com/companias/2025-12-24/bp-vende-el-65-de-castrol-a-stonepeak-por-5000-millones-de-euros.html)
12. [Commission Decision of 15 June 2026, Case COMP/M.12354 Stonepeak/Castrol, EUR-Lex](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1782489772389&uri=CELEX%3A32026M12354)
13. [Case 2026MAR0019MER, Namibian Competition Commission](https://www.nacc.com.na/mergers-and-acquisitions/determined/2026mar0019mer)
14. [bp Form 6-K, period ended June 30, 2026, SEC EDGAR](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/313807/000031380726000016/bp-20260630.htm)
15. [Castrol: Ownership transition and legal entity name change, Castrol USA](https://www.castrol.com/en_us/united-states/home/castrol-same-trusted-partner-new-momentum-for-the-future.html)
16. [Castrol EDGE products, Castrol global](https://www.castrol.com/en/global/corporate/products/our-brands/cars/castrol-edge.html)
17. [Castrol industrial products and services, Castrol global](https://www.castrol.com/en/global/corporate/products/castrol-industrial-products-and-services.html)
18. [Motorsport partnerships, Castrol India](https://castrol-com-test3.navitas.bpglobal.com/en_in/india/home/about-castrol/corporate-partnerships/motorsport-partnerships.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Technology and the built world › Energy technology › Oil industry › Oil companies and people*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 15, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 15, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license