Yokohama continues All-Japan F3, Macau Grand Prix tyre supply
Yokohama Rubber’s contract with the Japanese Formula 3 Association has been extended for a further three years, which means All-Japan Formula 3 Championship races will run on Advan control tyres through to 2016. Furthermore, this year Yokohama will return to Formula 3 in Macau for the 31st time – the Japanese tyre maker will once again serve as exclusive tyre supplier to the Macau Grand Prix and provide its Advan tyres for the race.
Continue ReadingPirelli signs for 2014 Mini Challenge supply
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.
Continue ReadingKumho conducts ‘F1 test’ in Spain
Kumho first stated its interest in F1 tyre supply as early as 2004, and speculation regarding the Korean tyre maker’s aims occasionally makes the news. Now the company itself has mentioned the F-word, reporting that in September it officially tested its F1 tyres – which have the same specifications as the tyres it will supply to Auto GP from 2014 – at Spain’s Circuit de Catalunya. Three days of evaluation began on 16 September and Kumho says the purpose for the test was to “validate the technology for future business with F1 and to actually test the technology accumulated through motor sports since the 1990s for F1.”
Continue ReadingBridgestone to launch motocross tyre following association partnership
Bridgestone will launch a new motocross tyre and announce an exclusive partnership with a historic motocross organisation at the International Dirt Bike Show. The world’s biggest tyre manufacturer says the sport represents one of the fastest growing motorbike tyre sectors in the UK, as well as offering significant brand awareness and sales opportunities. An official announcement is being made at the hugely popular annual show at Stoneleigh Park, which takes place between 31 October and 3 November.
Continue ReadingLorenzo’s Japanese domination takes MotoGP championship to decider
Jorge Lorenzo’s victory at the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi means the Yamaha Factory Racing rider has set up an intriguing final round in Valencia, where the championship leader, Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez will seek to fend off Lorenzo’s challenge. Marquez finished second in Japan, limiting the extent to which Lorenzo could close the gap at the top; a similar finish in the last of three rounds held in both riders’ home nation would present Marquez with the title. Shinichi Yamashita, general manager of MotoGP supplier Bridgestone’s Motorsport Tyre Development Department, said he was happy with the performance of the manufacturer’s softer allocation this year, despite the lack of time to practice due to rain.
Continue ReadingVettel claims Championship after early jettison of soft tyre
Pirelli may have brought two slick compounds to India, but with the medium compound P Zero White performing far better than the soft P Zero Yellow, the Formula One tyre supplier was quick to suggest that getting the required stint on the latter briefly and early in the race was the quickest way to navigate the Buddh International Circuit. The race winner, Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel followed this advice and was duly crowned winner of both the grand prix and F1 Drivers’ Championship, making him the youngest ever four-time world champion.
Continue ReadingMoto2, Moto3 riders to soften approach in Japan
Dunlop has announced a softer set of compounds than in 2012 for the Japanese Moto2 and Moto3 races. The announcement comes one week after the Australian grand prix at Phillip Island, where the new aggressive track surface led to shortened races in both the Moto2 and Bridgestone-supplied MotoGP.
Continue ReadingLe Mans a ‘laboratory’ for EV tyre development – Michelin
When the Automobile Club de lOuest, creator and organiser of the ’24 Heures du Mans’ has invited Nissan to enter its ZEOD RC into next year’s 24 hour race, the Japanese vehicle maker has turned to Michelin to develop the tyres on which the electric race car will compete. The car that will take to the Circuit de la Sarthe in June 2014 was officially unveiled in October 2013 – and the director of Michelin’s 4 Wheels Racing division was on hand to talk about the tyre maker’s participation in the project.
Continue ReadingBridgestone’s Aoki explains Phillip Island MotoGP race shortening
Shinji Aoki, manager, Bridgestone Motorsport Tyre Development Department, explains that the “rear slick tyre allocation we supplied for the Australian Grand Prix experienced extreme temperatures which affected their durability.” The race was reduced from 27 laps to 19, including an enforced pit stop at half way after Bridgestone data from practice showed the hard rear slick should do a maximum stint of 14 laps. The tyre supplier of the supporting Moto2 race Dunlop encountered similar issues, with its race also run over a reduced distance.
Continue ReadingMcKenna wins Pirelli UK Star Driver shootout
Pirelli has crowned British Rally Championship 2 winner Daniel McKenna its UK Star Driver honour ahead of five other finalists. During the two-day shootout at the Sweet Lamb motorsport complex in Wales, McKenna impressed a panel of five judges the most, winning a full, seven-round British Rally Championship campaign courtesy of the series’ tyre supplier. McKenna, from County Monaghan, will compete in a Citroen DS3 R3 supplied by DGM Motorsport.
Continue ReadingPirelli develops record-breaking custom P Zero for Alfa Romeo 4C
Pirelli has launched two fitments for the recently launched Alfa Romeo 4C. The new 4C lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 8:04 on the P Zero Trofeo tyres – a new Alfa Romeo record – which were developed in less than a year of intense work between Pirelli and Alfa Romeo engineers. The car has the option of fitting 17” on the front and 18” on the back, or 18” on the front and 19” on the back.
Continue ReadingDTM, Hankook to complete 2013 season at Hockenheimring
The DTM season ends this weekend at the same place where it began in May, the Hockenheimring. While the drivers title has already been won by Mike Rockenfeller (Audi), and Augusto Farfuss overall second place is unassailable, the BMW could achieve the rare feat of claiming two DTM races in the same year at the course in Hardtwald. In the third year of its involvement in the touring car series, exclusive tyre partner Hankook’s newly developed option tyres have provided an extra dimension to every DTM race.
Continue ReadingKumho extends Australian V8 series supply
The organiser of the Australian V8 Touring Car Series has confirmed Kumho Tyres Australia will continue as control tyre supplier until at least 2016. The supply agreement’s renewal continues an arrangement that began in 2008; as before, during the next three seasons Kumho will provide on-track support to competitors during all rounds.
Continue ReadingKumho rubber assists Busch twins to Nürburgring VLN victory
The German Busch twins won an emphatic one minute victory in 12 October’s VLN round on the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife. Their Audi R8 LMS Ultra carries the ‘Twin Busch’ livery of the brother’s successful garage equipment business and has been run on Kumho tyres throughout 2013, with increasingly rewarding results.
Continue ReadingAvon Tyres supported 2013 Time Attack season concludes
Avon Tyres witnessed a strong end to the 2013 Time Attack series at Brands Hatch, as two titles and an all-time Time Attack lap record were claimed on its tyres. Avon became an official tyre supplier to the increasingly popular Time Attack series at the start of 2013, supplying its acclaimed ZZR road-legal circuit tyres and full competition slicks to entrants.
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