Maxxis sponsors 2011 SATS Cosworth Euro Drifting Team
Maxxis has announced that it will take its MA-Z1 Drift tyre onto the European drifting circuit, with the sponsorship of reigning European Drift champion Mark Luney in the SATS Cosworth team. The SATS Cosworth Supra combines the drifting expertise of the SATS Motorsport team with an engine capable of pushing over 800bhp provided by Cosworth. Mark Luney, who has won the championship two years in a row and was also a contender for the title of Maxxis British Drift Champion in 2010, has signed to drive the car over the course of the year at major championships both in the UK and across Europe.
Continue ReadingMichelin Desert Race tyre helps teams to top Dakar podium on its debut
Michelin has reported the success of the maiden competitive appearance of the Michelin Desert Race tyre on the 2011 Dakar. Last Saturday in Buenos Aires, Argentina Spanish rider Marc Coma and his MRW Rally Factory Team-run KTM and Frenchman Cyril Despres with Team Red Bull KTM finished first and second respectively, both having run on the new Michelin tyre. The tough 9,500km event included 5,000km of against-the-clock action over some of Argentina and Chile's most difficult tracks and trails.
Continue ReadingYokohama adds three series to 2011 UK motorsport agenda
Yokohama HPT has confirmed that it will continue to work in partnership with one-make race series in the UK in 2011 and add a further three series to its portfolio of championships choosing Yokohama as control tyre. The company will supply control tyres to almost 30 race series. Commenting, head of Motorsport at YHPT Mark Evans said; “It looks as if 2011 will be an even busier season for Yokohama than last year and I am delighted that our involvement in motorsport is growing, both on a global and a domestic level. I am very pleased that we are continuing our relationships with some of the UK’s premier series, on the racetrack, rallycross circuits and oval tracks. I’m also excited by the prospect of supporting several new series, such as the VTEC Challenge and the new rallycross categories.”
Continue ReadingYokohama introduces new rally tyre to the UK
Yokohama HPT has announced a new motorsport tyre for the UK. The Yokohama A053 is a brand new gravel rally tyre, developed during the 2010 season as the manufacturer partnered the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. The A053 is designed to compliment the A035, featuring a completely new construction and tread pattern. Designed for all loose surface applications, it will be available in three compounds; super soft, soft and medium to cope with the widest range of gravel stage conditions. The A053 will replace both sizes of the preceding A035E, in 195 and 205 widths.
Continue ReadingYokohama HPT Introduces A005 Radial Tyre for UK’s Sports2000 Series
The UK distributor for Yokohama tyres, Yokohama HPT, has announced the introduction of a new specification race tyre to the UK. The A005, developed for the Sports2000 race series, replaces the now discontinued bias tyre used by the series. Sports2000 has exclusively used Yokohama tyres, supplied by George Polley Motorsport, for 25 years, up to and including 2010. The series is based on sports prototype-style single seaters, using either the Ford Pinto or Duratec engine and its value and fun-conscious approach means huge grids every season.
Continue ReadingMaxxis to Sponsor Team Japspeed
In addition to its role as title sponsor of the Maxxis British Drift Championship, tyre manufacturer Maxxis International has announced its sponsorship of Team Japspeed. The deal will continue a successful relationship that began in 2009, in which driver Steve Biagioni won the British Drift Championship using the Maxxis MA-Z1 Drift tyre.
Continue ReadingDucati 848 Challenge Joins Pirelli in British Superbike Partnership
Pirelli has announced that it will fit its Diablo Supercorsa tyres to the Ducati 848 Evo in the Ducati 848 Challenge – a new official partner of the MCE British Superbike Series 2011. Ducati is a long-time partner of Pirelli, with “an exclusive 100 per cent original equipment fitment deal.” Pirelli also recently agreed terms with the British Superbike and Supersport classes for sole tyre supply until 2015. The 848 Challenge will visit five British Superbike rounds and also go on tour to Monza and Assen. The Diablo Supercorsa has “broken numerous records in this year’s British and World Supersport Championships,” says Pirelli. Full 848 Challenge Series listings can be found below.
Continue ReadingFalken Selects Porsche 911 GT3 R for 2011 24-Hr Nürburgring
Long time participant in the Nürburgring 24 Hour race, the Falken Motorsport Team has decided to run a GT3 R specification Porsche 911 on 25-26 June. The high performance tyre manufacturer says its decision to switch to the Porsche follows a successful history of campaigning Japanese sports cars in the ADAC Zurich 24-Hour Race and ties in with increasing activity of the brand in the region. Falken says the race “will be used to develop the next generation of Falken tyres.”
Continue ReadingMaxxis Sponsors 2011 British Drift Championship
Maxis has announced that it will continue its title sponsorship of the British Drift Championship in the 2011 series. The brand’s purpose-designed MA-Z1 Drift tyres will once again be used in the championship, having scored numerous wins and podium places. Maxxis International says it aims to build on these achievements this year, which gets underway with the meeting at Donington Park on 22-23 April. “Since we began our association with the British Drift Championship in 2009 it has really moved on, enhancing its standing within the drift world as it successfully established itself as a vehicle for the best in multi-class drifting throughout Britain,” says Maxxis International UK’s managing director Derek McMartin.
Continue ReadingFoj Completes 20th Dakar Race with Toyota Cooper Tires Team
Xavier Foj is one of the most experienced Dakar racers with this year marking is twentieth time, as he and co-driver Pablo Jaton steered their Cooper Tires-shod Toyota Land Cruiser safely through what Foj called “almost unbearable” conditions. The Toyota Cooper Tires team’s lead vehicle claimed 19th position overall in this year’s gruelling Dakar race.
Continue ReadingDTM to Form “Core” of Hankook Motorsport Activities
When this year’s DTM touring car masters’ series gets underway at Germany’s Hockenheimring on May 1 the competing cars will take to the track on Hankook tyres. The Korean tyre maker confirms it has signed an agreement to take over from Dunlop as exclusive tyre supplier to the series for a three-year period.
Continue ReadingPirelli Extends Italian Speed Championship Tyre Supply
Pirelli reports that its Diablo Supercorsa SC will be the tyre used in both the Stock 600 and Stock 1000 classes of the Campionato Italiano Velocità – CIV (Italian Speed Championship) as of this year. After a season as exclusive tyre supplier to the Stock 1000 class, Pirelli has been selected as the Federazione Motociclistica Italiana’s partner for the Stock 600 class in the 2011 and 2012 season and has been confirmed as continued supplier for the Stock 1000 class. Pirelli will supply the 90 riders competing in the CIV this and next year with three 17-inch fitments of its Diablo Supercorsa SC in two compounds for the front and rear.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Remains Tight Lipped on Firestone IndyCar Plans
In light of rumours regarding Firestone’s departure from motorsport, Bridgestone Americas has released a statement explaining its position, yet the tyre maker’s official words clarify little. Speculation that Bridgestone will dump the IndyCar Series after the 2011 season has existed after it failed to renew its tyre supply contract before the December 31 deadline.
Continue ReadingCooper Extends Dakar Rally Involvement
Cooper Tire has developed an online game to celebrate its expanded involvement in the Dakar Rally 2011. Cooper Tire has doubled its backing of the Toyota Cooper Tire squad for the 2011 running of the event, with the Land Cruiser KXR of Xavier Foj and Pablo Jaton joined by a Hi-Lux, piloted by Jesus Calleja and Ignacio Santamaria. Last year, the single car of Foj/Jaton finished second in the T2 Production class.
Continue ReadingChanges to F1, GT1 Tyre Rules Confirmed
Proposed changes to Formula One and GT1 World Championship were confirmed at this year’s final meeting of the World Motor Sport Council (WSMC), which took place in Monaco on December 10. The WSMC has approved the re-introduction of intermediate tyres into Formula One for 2011, along with the imposition of penalties upon any driver who fails to use both specification of dry weather tyre during a race. Changes for GT1 include an increase in the number of dry weather tyres to six sets (of which only four are permitted for qualifying and the races). The intention of this change is to allow teams to use tyres to their maximum capacity during practice, reducing the necessity to incur additional costs in private testing.
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