Lights go Green for Marangoni Motorsport Assault

Following a successful motorsport campaign in 2006, Marangoni has announced a strong programme of activity for 2007, which will see both the tyremaker’s Zeta Linea Racing and Mythos tyres utilised in motorsport campaigns which include the FIA International Hill Climb Challenge, the Italian Hill Climb Championship, the Osella Junior Trophy and the new one-make Italian Nissan 350Z Challenge.

Marangoni views motorsport as integral to the R&D of production tyres, with competition recognised as a real-time mobile laboratory and a major R&D resource. Racing on Marangoni technology again in 2007 is Simone Faggioli, whose Zetra Linea Racing tyre shod machine took out the 2004 and 2005 Italian Hillclimb Championships and a European 2005 title.

In 2007 Faggioli will compete primarily in the FIA International Hill Climb Challenge, which has rounds throughout Europe and includes several events in Italy. Competing under the Faggioli Team banner, he will return to the cockpit of his Osella PA21S, which will once again be fitted with the same Zeta Linea Racing tyres that have proved successful in previous seasons. His continuing association with Marangoni has ensured continuing development of his competition tyres and regular feedback to R&D, which is used for future road tyre development.

2007 Osella Junior Trophy

The Osella Junior Trophy, inaugurated in 2006 as a proving ground for young Italian competition drivers, continues in 2007. Enrico Maione took the title last year in a series strongly supported by Faggioli. The control tyre for the series of hillclimbs continues to be the racing version of the Marangoni Zeta Linea Racing, in both wet and dry compounds.

2007 Nissan 350Z Challenge

This brand new Italian one-make championship sees a field of Nissan 350Z competing in a 14-race series between May and October. All but one of the race weekends are held in Italy – the sole exception being the first weekend in July when the venue is the famous Spa circuit in Belgium. For the series, Marangoni is developing a new size of the Zeta Linea Racing tyre, 245/653 R18, for rear wheel fitment on the 350Z Challenge cars. Fields of 18 cars per race are expected

Commenting on the 2007 competition programme Andrea Vassura, Marangoni (Car Tyre Division) director for commercial activities said, “This is one of the most challenging seasons for Marangoni, particularly in the FIA International Hill Climb Challenge where Marangoni tyres will be competing at the very highest level. With the new Nissan 350Z Challenge, we are exclusively developing the Mythos tyre for what promises to be an exciting, hard-fought and high profile series. As always at Marangoni, we regard racing as a vital laboratory for our future development, utilising data gathered from our results to ensure our products are at the forefront of both technology and performance. We are looking forward to another season of success.”