Next-Gen WTCC Tyres Already in Preparation – Yokohama

According to Yokohama, FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) drivers have universally praised the performance of its Advan tyres in the hard-fought competition, but success has not stopped the Japanese manufacturer from engaging in preparation work on the WTCC’s next generation tyre. Yokohama is confirmed as the WTCC’s official tyre supplier until the end of 2009 but the company says is not resting on the success of its current racing tyre. In the background, development work is already underway on the next series of performance rubber. When the current tender ends in 2009, the ADVAN design used in today’s WTCC will be three years old. Should the FIA and WTCC teams decide to use a different specification tyre, Yokohama says it will already have developed options in line with touring car changes, and be ready to manufacture its latest product.

As the WTCC field, together with partner series Formula Master (which also runs on Advan tyres), heads for the first street circuit of the season in Pau, France, Yokohama tyre engineer Mr Watanabe explains the Japanese company’s philosophy behind the 2009 developments. “Developing the WTCC tyre is a constant evolution at Yokohama,” said Watanabe. “We hope to win the 2010 tender as we have done for the past two years, and in order to be prepared we have started work already.

“Touring cars evolve each year as do their counterpart road cars. As part of our development, we are already considering a range of variables, which we are investigating. Tests are already scheduled to work on some of our initial ideas; everything is about being pro-active so that we are ready when the time comes.”