Bridgestone Receives President’s Award at Podio Ferrari 2006

Bridgestone received the President’s Award at the Podio Ferrari prize-giving ceremony in Maranello, Italy, on 7th June. This annual awards programme recognises and rewards suppliers and technical partners who have excelled in innovation, technology and product development whilst working with Ferrari. Mr Luca di Montezemolo, President and CEO of Ferrari, presented the prestigious award to Mr Takashi Urano, Chairman, CEO and President of Bridgestone Europe, in recognition of Bridgestone’s “major contribution to ensuring cutting-edge performance from the Formula 1 cars and transferring this experience to our GT cars”.

This is the third time that Bridgestone has won the Premio del Presidente award in the six years that the event has been running. “We are very honoured” said Mr Urano after receiving the award, “and we are determined to continue providing excellence to meet the challenges that lie ahead”.

More than 300 partners and supplier companies participated in this year’s event, competing for the Ferrari Technology Award, the Ferrari Innovation Award, the Italian Excellence Award and the top President’s Award. The Podio Ferrari also provides a platform for debate on high-profile issues of interest to the automobile industry. The subjects addressed this year, with distinguished guest speakers, included “worldwide business development” and “the repercussions of technology innovation in the automotive area”.

Bridgestone and Ferrari have a long and successful history of working together. As well as supplying tyres to the Formula One team that has won five consecutive drivers’ and six constructors’ world championships (from 1999 to 2004), Bridgestone provides Potenza RE050 factory fitments for the F430, F430 Spyder, 612 Scaglietti, 599 GTB Fiorano and is exclusive tyre supplier for the Ferrari Enzo, Superamerica and FXX.