Beijing stages first-ever ePrix
History was made this weekend (14 September) as the world’s first ever fully-electric single-seater race took place in Beijing, marking the successful season opener of the FIA Formula E Championship. The race – Beijing Evergrande Spring ePrix – was held on a spectacular temporary race track built around the city’s iconic Olympic ‘Bird’s Nest’ Stadium and […]
Continue ReadingBritish GT to receive a new slick tyre in 2015
It is three years since Avon Tyres has introduced a new tyre to the British GT Championship – the title sponsor says that series organiser, SRO Motorsports Group, requested the tyres remain the same due to team and driver satisfaction with them. But for next season the Avon slick used by all GT3 and GT4 teams will feature a new compound.
Continue ReadingPirelli F1 tyres at 362.1km/h top speed
Pirelli has shown the effect of the most extreme speed to be clocked during the 2014 season on its Formula One tyres. At the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo reached 362.1km/h while slipstreaming on the main straight. At that speed, Ricciardo’s wheel was rotating around 2,800 times every minute, or just under 50 times every second.
Continue ReadingProtyre Motorsport becomes Michelin Formula E global tyre supply partner
Michelin has named Protyre Motorsport as its global tyre supply partner in the inaugural FIA Formula E championship. The Winchester based firm will supply and service the Michelin Pilot Sport EV tyre, which has been specially developed for the series. Protyre experts will co-ordinate logistics and trackside assistance to all teams over the 10 rounds of the innovative series.
Continue ReadingF1 Japan, Russia compounds announced
Pirelli has announced the compounds it will make available for the forthcoming grands prix in Japan and Russia. The exclusive tyre supplier said it would announce its final three 2014 allocations after its visit to Sochi, Russia, a brand new circuit for which Pirelli has relied on simulation data in making its compound allocation choice.
Continue ReadingPirelli confirmed for three more Superbike seasons
It has already served as official tyre supplier to the FIM Superbike World Championship for a decade, and Pirelli’s technical partnership with the series has now been confirmed for a further three years after winning the tender organised by promoter Dorna in agreement with FIM, the International Motorcycling Federation. Pirelli will thus continue as sole tyre supplier for all Superbike World Championship classes until the end of the 2018 season, and the tyre maker views the longevity of its relationship with Superbike as vindication of its initially controversial support for a single-supplier solution.
Continue ReadingPirelli announces support for Richard Burns Foundation at Castle Combe
Pirelli UK will provide its rally simulator to the Richard Burns Foundation at the Rallyday event in Castle Combe on 20 September. All proceeds from the simulator experience will go to the Richard Burns Foundation: a charity set up in the name of the 2001 World Rally Champion, who won his title on Pirelli tyres.
Continue ReadingCooper Avon previews weekend F3, GT finales
Donington Park plays host to the final rounds of the Cooper Tires British Formula 3 Championship and Avon Tyres British GT Championship over the weekend of 13-14 September. Both championships will take to the Donington Park Grand Prix track, and tyre supplier and title sponsor Cooper Avon says the fast, sweeping curves and undulation changes making it a worthy venue for the end of season showdown.
Continue ReadingYokohama fielding Geolandar-shod SUV in Baja 1000
Yokohama Rubber says it will enter an SUV in the 2014 Tecate Score Baja 1000 off-road race that will take place in Mexico’s Baja California state between 12 and 16 November. The tyre maker will also support one of the top US off-road teams participating in the race.
Continue ReadingJean Todt talks Formula E
FIA president Jean Todt is credited as being the visionary behind the new Michelin-shod electric vehicle racing championship that will spark into life in Beijing this coming Saturday. Ahead of the launch of Formula E, he has spoken about the philosophy behind the series and his hopes for the future…
Continue ReadingLow degradation helps Hamilton dominate in Monza
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton claimed victory in Monza, using the popular one-stop strategy, the race method predicted as dominant prior to the race by tyre supplier Pirelli. The manufacturer’s home race – it is held half an hour’s drive from the company’s HQ in Milan – saw all of the top 10 finishers using similar tactics to Hamilton, as low wear and degradation of both compounds made the approach almost obligatory.
Continue ReadingFalken’s James Deane becomes 2014 Extreme Drift Allstars champion
Falken Motorsports’ driver James Deane won the Extreme Drift Allstars Lithuanian Drift GP and with it, secured his place as the 2014 Extreme Drift Allstars champion.
Continue ReadingPirelli previews F1 return from mid-season break at Spa
Following a three-week break the 2014 Formula One season will resume at the fan-favourite Spa-Francorchamps circuit. Pirelli will supply its P Zero White medium and P Zero Yellow soft tyres, a softer choice compared to last year – the exclusive tyre supplier says this allocation is designed to promote different strategies on what is, at 7km, the longest lap of the year.
Continue ReadingDMACK Fiesta competition switches to asphalt
The Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy switches surfaces for the only all-asphalt round at Rallye Deutschland. Round four of the trophy is expected to be the source of some surprises, as the asphalt specialists in the field pick up their pace in the chase for a full season in the 2015 FIA WRC 2 Championship. Sander Pärn leads the championship having excelled on gravel to win all of the first three rounds, but tarmac drivers such as Frenchman Quentin Gilbert, Spaniard Yeray Lemes and Belgiums Ghislain de Mevius now have a good opportunity to claw back his advantage, since Pärn has only contested four events on the surface.
Continue ReadingBradley Smith talks to Bridgestone ahead of Silverstone homecoming – video
Britain’s leading MotoGP light Bradley Smith is looking forward to “the best and worst part of the season” in one race, when he gears up for a spectacular Silverstone homecoming. Speaking exclusively to the series’ official tyre supplier Bridgestone, the Monster Energy Tech 3 star gives his thoughts on a red letter day below, fresh on the back of a top six finish at Indianapolis.
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