Andrew is an editor for WhatTyre, Tyrepress, and Tyres & Accessories magazine. He has more than a decade of experience in editing, writing, and journalism.
Continental Tyres has appointed Tom Edwards as its new retread and brand manager in the UK and Ireland commercial vehicle marketing team, and Gabriel O’Keefe as a truck sales manager, covering Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland border counties.
Toyo’s Proxes R888, the Japanese manufacturer’s road-legal competition tyre, has been involved in a wide variety of series this year, showing its versatility and targeting fitments suited to the brand’s strategic placement.
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Yokohama’s 2013 motorsport season included the novelty of supplying the control tyre for the inaugural BRDC Formula 4 series, which boasted full grids and close competition as a popular stepping stone in single seat racing for aspiring Formula One drivers.
Dmack is hoping to help four Ford Fiesta R5 drivers challenge for WRC2 honours at the revived Wales Rally GB round of the FIA World Rally Championship. Jari Ketomaa used the DMG+2 gravel tyre at Rally Finland in August to drive to victory, and he will challenge again when the championship kicks off on Thursday in North Wales. Norwegian Eyvind Brynildsen will join him, driving a pair of Autotek-run Fiesta R5s in Dmack livery. Two local British drivers will also use Dmack in attempting to make home advantage count in the north and mid-Wales forests.
Premium brand tyre manufacturers have emphasised youth development as a keystone of their activities practically since John Boyd Dunlop’s famous fitment to his son’s tricycle, and Sumitomo’s Falken brand has focused its engagement with grassroots sport in this way during 2013. First it introduced a sponsorship and support scheme that enabled young drivers access to subsidised and free tyres in the Association of North Western Car Clubs (ANWCC) K11 Micra Challenge and the Under 17 Motor AutoSOLO Championship for standard cars. It followed that with support for 11-year old Catherine Harris in National Ministox. The championships used the ZIEX ZE912 while the younger sister of 2013 F1 stock car world champion Tom Harris used both the ZIEX ZE912 and Sincera tyres on her Mini.
Hankook has continued to increase its reputation as a motorsport tyre supplier in DTM this year. Looking back on the season following the final action at the Hockenheimring, Manfred Sandbichler, Hankook Motorsports director Europe, explained that the increased emphasis on tyres has been a pleasing element of 2013.
Team Falken completed the ALMS season-ending Petit Le Mans on a high note, taking first place in the GT class. Falken’s Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, prepared by team manager Derrick Walker, was driven by Porsche Works and Falken team driver Wolf Henzler and Bryan Sellers were again joined by co-driver Nick Tandy, who previously ran with the duo at Sebring.
Northampton power train supplier Cosworth has announced the completion of the first part of its multi-stage power package for Subaru’s FA20 powertrain. The Stage 1 upgrade brings together a fully tuned stainless steel exhaust system, a bespoke four into two into one exhaust manifold, a high-flow sports CAT, a high performance panel air filter and a specially mapped ECU program to ensure all these components work together in perfect harmony while conservatively improving power by approximately 24hp over the original equipment. The FA20 features in the Scion FR-S (Toyota GT86) and the Subaru BRZ. Cosworth is currently exhibiting the Stage 1 Power Package at Booth #23324 at Las Vegas’ SEMA Show.
Stapleton’s has commenced its series of re-fits in line with its Matador Key Dealer Programme. Wootton Tyres, an independent tyre retailer on the Isle of Wight, became the first depot to be re-branded to reflect its participation in the programme, and Stapleton’s says many more are to follow.
Dunlop’s motorsport heritage dates back as long as the brand itself, but even with such a history it is fair to say that its 125th year represented a strong showing. The manufacturer says entering races with open tyre supply is an important part of its drive to innovate and develop, although it continues to provide control tyres to a number of championships too. Dunlop emphasises particularly its endurance victories, which this year have included the Nürburgring 24H, VLN 6hrs, Le Mans 24h LMP2 and FIA World Endurance Championship and European Le Mans Series race victories too. Dunlop says it uses these championships to develop new technologies and concepts that then cascade into their standard motorsport tyre range and ultra high performance road car tyre range.
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Cooper’s Avon brand celebrated 30 years of motorsport by adding a number of new championships to its portfolio, including the Time Attack Series, to which Avon became an official tyre supplier at the start of the year and the F1 Era Superbike Championship – a new series for 2013. Meanwhile, Cooper Tires became a principal partner to the burgeoning FIA European Rallycross Championship and sponsor to rising star Timmy Hansen in his maiden season. Both brands were once again the title sponsors of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship and the Cooper Tires British Formula 3 Series.
Michelin will bring its latest range of motorcycle tyres in January 2014, with three versions of the Pilot Road 4 available in a total of 17 sizes. The Pilot Road 4, Pilot Road 4 GT and Pilot Road 4 Trail have been developed to decrease wet braking distances. The GT version of the tyre has been awarded a major original equipment contract too; it will be fitted to the new BMW R 1200 RT, one of the bestselling bikes in its category.
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Cam Systems has created two new roles, expanding its customer support with a technical account management and a client liaison expertise. Lance Malin, an experienced technical account manager, will be responsible for delivering hardware and software projects to customers, and developing and maintaining strong business relationships. Frankie Sharp is tasked with increasing the information flow between Cam and non-Cam clients, the software provider says.
Pirelli has signed an extension to its supply of the Mini Challenge. The tyre supplier, which has original equipment deals to supply its P Zero and Cinturato tyres to the road-going Mini Countryman and Mini Cooper S, will supply both the Cooper class and the turbo-charged John Cooper Works class throughout 2014, the series’ 13th year. The series organiser said it had agreed to place controls on tyre usage in conjunction with the tyre supplier, with the aim of keeping down the cost of competing.
Czech manufacturer of steel pallets and tyre racks Avex is now operating under a slightly altered name: Avex Steel Products s.r.o. The change of name has also signalled another change for the firm; Avex is now operating with a new website at www.avexproducts.com.
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