Kumho Moves into New European Motorsport Headquarters

For the past ten years Kumho’s European Motorsport Division has been based on the Stanmore Industrial Estate in Bridgnorth, Shropshire. The division has long since moved from its first building on the site and now, due to expansion, it has taken possession of a still larger premises, one that will accommodate ongoing growth for some years to come. The new warehouse occupies an area of 28,000 square feet, and is accompanied by an adjacent 4,000 square feet of office space plus large conference room.

The division, managed by Steve Thompson, is responsible for all Kumho’s motorsport commitments throughout Europe and even caters for some events far further afield, such as The Silver Fern Rally in New Zealand. Due to this constant flurry of activity, at any given time the new Bridgnorth warehouse is home to thousands of competition tyres. They are manufactured to order in the company’s factories in Korea, shipped to Bridgnorth and then supplied to teams and events throughout Europe. An integral part of the division’s activities is providing the R&D department and factory with the information needed for the design and development of race winning products. In turn, all the lessons learnt in the heat of the racetrack and the often damp, muddy conditions of the rally stage are incorporated in the design of Kumho’s UHP road tyres.

The facility supplies all 1600 tyres taken to the annual Masters of F3 event – the Blue Riband Formula 3 meeting, and it is also the official supplier to the 20-race F3 Euro Series, the contract for which has just been extended by another three years. Rallycross is a further stronghold for Kumho and it is the title sponsor and sole tyre supplier of the MSA British Rallycross Championship. The popular series is contested over seven rounds at circuits in England, Wales and Ireland. Among the 4×4 tyres to be found in the warehouse are the 275/65 R18 KL72s Kumho has developed for use in the world’s top rally raid events – not least by the works Bowler entries. Kumho is currently the only manufacturer producing tyres in the 18-inch size required by these fearsome 500bhp vehicles. And, following the success of the inaugural version, the company is developing one with a deeper tread pattern for improved performance in wet, muddy conditions.

Manager Steve Thompson is, says Kumho, a tyre man through and through, having joined Michelin as an apprentice engineer in 1977. After gaining experience in the areas of engineering, production management, sales (car and truck) and motorsport, he moved to Kumho in 2001.

“Motorsport will play an increasing role in Kumho’s strategy as it moves ever-closer to its goal of being among the top five of the world’s tyre manufacturers by the year 2015,” commented Thompson. “Though we have some way to go against such established rivals as Pirelli and Michelin, we are very proud of the results we are achieving. Indeed, we have proved that with the strong backing of our R&D facilities both in Korea and the UK, we are capable of developing motorsport products to compete with the best. Courtesy of the new headquarters we can continue to increase our involvement in racing, rallying, rallycross, hillclimbing, sprinting etc, in all of which we have a rapidly growing customer base.”