Yokohama seals maiden 2012 IRC class win in San Marino
Yokohama-shod Jarkko Nikara claimed his first class victory, four minutes ahead of the next Production Cup driver, in the 2012 Intercontinental Rally Challenge Production Cup, claiming fifth overall on the San Marino Rally. Nikara and co-driver Jarkko Kalliolepo led the event from the first stage in their Tommi Makinen Racing Subaru Impreza R4 and claimed the Japanese brand's first event win of 2012 with a margin of more than four minutes.
Continue ReadingPirelli supplies tyres to Myerscough motorsport students
Pirelli has provided motorsport students from Myerscough College with competition tyres for the Ford Fiesta R2 rally car they are building as part of their course. Based in Lancashire, northwest England, Myerscough College boasts seven motorsport workshops and several competition cars for the continuing development and expansion of motorsport teaching. The college believes that hands-on experience is an important aspect of learning and therefore encourages students to take part in a wide range of motorsport events throughout the UK.
Continue ReadingPirelli tyres “work well” in difficult Scottish Rally conditions
Pirelli’s rally tyres were tested by sodden conditions at Saturday’s rain-soaked RSAC Scottish Rally, round five of the MSA Scottish Rally Championship. Reigning British rally champions, David Bogie and co-driver Kevin Rae, charged to their fourth victory of the season at the wheel of a Pirelli KM6-equipped Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9.
Continue ReadingGilbert extends Pirelli Mini Challenge lead
Henry Gilbert extended his lead in the Pirelli-backed MINI Challenge at Snetterton 300. The MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S race cars raced over two classes at the fourth round of the seven-round series: the John Cooper Works (JCW) class and the Club class. The JCW class was provided with slick and wet options: the 225/625-17 DH slick and 225/625-17 WS wet tyre. For the second time this season, Pirelli DH slicks and N3 wets were available to the Club class.
Continue ReadingWSBK riders to test next year’s rubber
On 2 July Superbike teams and riders will be given their first opportunity to experience Pirelli’s new 17-inch Diablo Superbike tyres for themselves. The tyre maker has confirmed a test day will be held at the Aragòn circuit in Spain next Monday for riders to check out prototypes of the tyre size the Superbike World Championship will run on as of next year. As part of the day’s programme, riders will initially ride on the current 16.5-inch tyres for a few laps – the same tyres available for this weekend’s race – before moving on to the 17-inch tyres. Pirelli says four 17-inch front tyres and four rear tyres will be used; in order to make a direct comparison easier, both these and the 16.5-inch tyres will feature the same compound, SC1.
Continue ReadingPirelli fantasy game a ‘nice tie-in’ with National Motorsport Week
Pirelli has confirmed its support for National Motorsport Week 2012, which will take place between 30 June and 8 July. The week-long annual initiative, jointly promoted by the Motorsport Industry Association and the Motor Sports Association, is a celebration of motorsport book-ended by two of the country’s premier motorsport events: the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Santander British Formula One Grand Prix. National Motorsport Week features a wide range of initiatives and activities, ranging from novice taster events run by local motor clubs to factory visits and open days at many of the UK’s premier motorsport organisations.
Continue ReadingExtra tyre set brings GP2 strategy even closer to F1
Since its inception in 2005, the main goal of the GP2 Series has been to prepare young drivers for what is arguably the pinnacle of motorsport – Formula 1. And Pirelli says tyre management has always played a key role in helping GP2 drivers to step into F1 easily and be competitive quickly.
Continue ReadingYokohama extends WTCC supply
The FIA has opted to extend Yokohama Rubber’s supply of Advan tyres to the World Touring Car Championship as control tyre for a further three years, through to 2015. In reporting the continuation of its tyre supply, Yokohama notes that by the time this current deal expires, the WTCC will have run on its tyres for a decade.
Continue ReadingBehind the scenes at Le Mans with Michelin
Ever wanted to get behind the scenes at Le Mans? Only a limited number of people ever get that close in person, but Michelin is providing a rare glimpse into the action that goes into each 24 Hours of Le Mans race via video. Opening the garage doors, Michelin has produced an exclusive video that provides insight into what the Audi team experiences in the run up to, during and after the iconic race, which takes place over the weekend of the 16-17 June.
Continue ReadingTeam Nexen takes top Drift Allstars honours
Team Nexen Tire Europe drivers Alan Sinnot and Luke Fink dominated the Drift Allstars Europe season opener in Birmingham, taking the top two places. The team, which launched on the Friday before the event, runs on Nexen’s new N8000 tyres. Luis Lopez also joined the two drivers in the Nexen team, which launched on the Friday before the event.
Continue Reading3rd-placed Infinity AMD has “high expectations” for weekend drifting
The 2012 Maxxis British Drift Championship stages its second round at the Norfolk Arena from 1-3 June 2012, and the Infinity Tyres-sponsored Acorn Motorsport Division says it has high expectations of building on its successes at round one. The team was very satisfied with the first round performance of its two competing drivers, which meant that they go into round two lying in third place in the overall standings. One of the team’s drivers, Ian Waddington is returning from his honeymoon in Hawaii to be at the wheel of his Nissan 200sc S13.
Continue ReadingMichelin publishes I-Spy Goodwood
Michelin has published a special-edition I-Spy Goodwood Festival of Speed book, celebrating its sponsorship of the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Supercar Paddock. The book will be available on the Michelin stand at the Festival from Thursday 28 June to Sunday 1 July, while stocks last. In common with I-Spy books from past and present, the new book includes interesting cars, places and people to spot at this year’s Festival. Michelin has also made 500 copies available for pre-purchase from the Michelin I-Spy website for £3.50.
Continue ReadingYokohama tyre supplier for GT Asia
At the opening round of the GT Asia championship, held in Malaysia on 25 May, Yokohama Rubber began in its new role as control tyre supplier. The Japanese tyre maker supplied its Advan A005 for dry conditions and the Advan A006 for the wet.
Continue ReadingPirelli previews Jim Clark International Rally
The fourth round of the MSA British Rally Championship will take place in the Scottish Borders next week; the 41st running of the Jim Clark International Rally (1-3 June). Pirelli is tyre supplier to the championship, and will take a mixture of 15” to 17” RX7 and RE7 asphalt tyres to the fourth – and first all-asphalt – round of the UK’s premier rally series. The popularity of the Jim Clark International is underlined by Pirelli UK Motorsport’s operation manager, Matthew Corby: “Apart from Wales Rally GB – a round of the FIA World Rally Championship – the Jim Clark International Rally attracts the greatest number of spectators of any British rally.”
Continue ReadingPirelli SC1 performs “admirably” at Snetterton BSB
The MCE British Superbike Championship visited Snetterton this weekend, and Pirelli, which supplies the tyres for the event, declared itself pleased with the performance of its tyres in the hot conditions – especially the softer SC1 compound. Michael Laverty became the seventh winner of the championship’s seventh race following Tommy Hill’s victory in race one. The two Superbike races were held in front of 40,000 fans, who enjoyed some fantastic racing with track temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Centigrade in both outings.
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