Mobil 1 is offering free oil checks to customers at the Baynards Green, Bicester, and Ermont Way, Banbury, Esso service stations during National Oil Check Week, (June 15-19) and the chance to win a unique oil painting of F1 World Drivers’ Champion, Lewis Hamilton.

National Oil Check Week was set up to encourage the UK’s 35 million motorists to carry out basic car maintenance tasks like checking oil levels, after it was revealed that 17 per cent of UK drivers were risking an average repair bill of £1,413 by never checking their oil.

Oil checks will be in operation from noon to 2pm throughout Oil Check Week and all participants will automatically be entered to win the limited edition Lewis Hamilton print.

Customers purchasing a Mobil 1 1-litre pack will also receive a free luxury top up storage bag.

The portrait in oil, commissioned to kick off National Oil Check Week is unique because the twist is that the oil used is Mobil 1 race oil taken directly from the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1 car in which Lewis won last year’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Mobil 1, technology partner to Hamilton’s Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team, charged US artist David Macaluso with the creation of the picture of Lewis in typically triumphant pose to celebrate his title success and highlight Mobil’s role in the UK-wide car maintenance initiative.

2008 FIA Formula One World Drivers’ Champion Lewis Hamilton said: “I'm very impressed with the oil painting. I've always known that the Mobil 1 in my race car is an important component that can give us an edge over our rivals in some circumstances, but I'd never have guessed you could use it to paint with; the oil gives this picture a unique look and feel…”

Mobil 1 UK marketing manager, Gary Plumridge, said: “We hope that our initiative will educate the public to the importance of regular oil checks, especially as a staggering 1 in 5 cars on the road has so little oil in the engine that it is perilously close to suffering a catastrophic breakdown.”

For those unable to make it down to the Baynards Green or Ermont Way Esso service stations during National Oil Check Week one of the special pieces of memorabilia can also be won in a competition at www.mobil-1.co.uk.