Leading Drivers Compete on Yokohama Tyres at Race of Champions

The 2008 motorsport season for Yokohama HPT, the UK distributor for the Japanese brand, culminated in style this December. Hot on the heels of Yokohama-shod Tom Cave winning his class on Wales Rally GB, the some of the world’s leading motorsport drivers competed in the annual Race of Champions at Wembley stadium, driving, among other vehicles, the Yokohama-equipped RX150s built by Rage Motorsport.

The Race of Champions has become something of an institution as far as the motorsport season goes, traditionally closing the year’s activities by pitting a variety of drivers from all forms of motorsport against each other in a range of vehicles. In addition to crowning the champion of champions, the event also sees a Nations Cup being fought out over the circuit, with drivers from different disciplines but the same country competing side by side.

The event moved to the Wembley Stadium in 2007 and sees two vehicles race side by side in a series of heats, knockouts, semi-finals and a final to determine the champion. This year, cars used included the Ford Focus RS World Rally Car, the Abarth 500, the ROC Car and the Rage RX150 supplied by RX Racing. The RX150 is fitted with Yokohama tyres from the factory for the RX Racing one-make series that forms part of the British RallyCross Championship, so it was a natural progression for the Japanese tyres to remain in place for this year’s Race of Champions.

Delivering stunning acceleration and pin-sharp handling, the RX150 racing machine drew critical acclaim from the ranks of the drivers who competed in the event, which included current and former champions from the racetrack and the rally stage. Unanimously, the drivers commented on the fun to be had at the wheel of the RX150, which delivers 150bhp through a six-speed sequential gearbox and onto the track, via the Yokohama ADVAN A021R tyres.

Commenting on the success of the weekend, RX Racing sales director Joe Adams said: “This has been a fantastic event for RX Racing and is an excellent stage for us to promote our racing championship from. The feedback from the drivers on the RX150 has been fantastic, with each and every one enjoying the experience. We’ve even had one former British champion say that he wants to compete in a round of the RX150 Championship next year, as part of the British RallyCross series. Jenson Button even chose the RX150 as his favourite vehicle after Saturday’s practice session.”

Yokohama HPT motorsport manager Mark Evans said: “We are delighted that the Yokohama-equipped RX150 went down so well at this year’s Race of Champions. It’s always encouraging to hear such positive responses from professional drivers, but just as important was the excitement that the RX150s created within the audience at the event. Two RX150s racing side by side produced some unbelievably spectacular action.

“This is the perfect culmination of motorsport for us in the UK. We celebrated Tristan Pye’s BTRDA Production Cup win earlier this year, followed by Paul MacKinnon’s win on the Isle of Mull rally. That was backed-up by Tom Cave’s success on Wales Rally GB, winning his class by almost 15 minutes and then to see the best drivers in the world, from every possible discipline of motorsport compete in the RX150s on Yokohama tyres was fantastic.”

The Yokohama-shod RX150s will be in action again in early January, as they form part of the Live Action show at the Autosport International show, the motorsport industry’s premier show. Taking place from 9-11 January, eight RX150s will rock the halls of the NEC just as loudly as they did Wembley, kick-starting the 2009 motorsport season.