5 more years: BTCC extends Goodyear tyre supply
After debuting in 2020 as exclusive tyre supplier to the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), having taken over from sister brand Dunlop, Goodyear has now signed up for a further five years. Goodyear Tyres and BTCC series organiser TOCA announced today that their partnership will continue through to the end of 2026 and through the introduction of hybrid power to the championship.
Continue Reading
Rallye Monte-Carlo marks Pirelli’s exclusive WRC comeback
On Thursday, Pirelli will return as exclusive tyre supplier to the FIA World Rally Championship after an absence of more than ten years. The Rallye Monte-Carlo – itself 110 years old in 2021 – is considered one of the most demanding anywhere in the world because of the often changeable weather conditions encountered on the asphalt roads that snake their way through the French Alps. Pirelli is bringing around 3,200 tyres to this challenging rally round.
Continue Reading
18th Dakar gold for Goodyear-shod truck team
On Saturday the Kamaz-Master factory team once again achieved a category win in the toughest rally in the world, the Dakar. As well as coming first in the 12-day rally-raid for the 18th time, team members also occupied the other spots on the podium. Official tyre partner Goodyear is thrilled with the result.
Continue Reading
Davanti-supported driver Zelos to race in Mini Challenge eSeries
With the pandemic situation continuing to place 2021 motorsport series in doubt, racers are preparing to get involved in Esports. While digital competition has been a growing trend for several years, interest in digital motorsport spiked in response to the suspension of series across Europe in 2020. A leading Mini Challenge competitor, Dan Zelos is looking forward to his return to the track on 16 January, as the championship’s official eSeries commences. Zelos is supported by Davanti Tyres; the UK tyre brand will also boast a presence in the competition as Zelos pilots his Davanti-branded Mini around virtual versions of every circuit on the 2021 calendar.
Continue Reading
Pirelli WJ tyre to debut on Arctic Rally
Pirelli’s new rally tyre for snow and ice, which has studs longer than 8mm, will make its first appearance this weekend. Fitted to R5 cars on the Arctic Rally from 15-16 January, the Sottozero Ice WJ debuts at the opening round of the Finnish Rally Championship. Its long titanium-tipped studs are locked into place using Pirelli’s patented vulcanisation process for retention. A new tread pattern design helps the tyre to capitalise on the increased grip supplied by the studs. Pirelli says the new tyre will be available commercially for national championships run in extreme winter conditions, such as those run in the Scandinavian and Baltic regions. It is suitable for R5, R2 and historic rally vehicles.
Continue Reading
Goodyear-shod trucks dominating Dakar 2021
A week into this year’s Dakar event, and Goodyear reports that its partner team is dominating proceedings. The Kamaz-Master team has claimed six out of seven stage victories and two to three podium places so far.
Continue Reading
Yokohama control tyre for Porsche Sprint Challenge North America
A new all-Porsche racing series commences in the USA and Canada next year, and Yokohama will serve as control tyre. The Porsche Sprint Challenge North America is a three-class series contested by the current and previous generations of Porsche 991 GT3 as well as the 718 Cayman Clubsport. All cars will race on Yokohama Advan racing tyres, with the Advan A005 slick the rubber of choice on dry tracks and the Advan A006 serving as wet weather tyre.
Continue Reading
Giti Tire reviews 2020 motorsport season in new video
Giti Tire is showcasing its 2020 motorsport achievements in a new video. Despite Covid-19 restrictions, the manufacturer still set tyres on the tarmac in the Nürburgring 24-Hour Race and Endurance Series, the F3 Asian Championship, the British Truck Racing Championship (BTRC), and VW Fun Cup UK, among others. Its longstanding partnerships were joined by a growing Esports team, with 40 international drivers driving 30 different cars in online events around the world.
Continue Reading
GT Radial-sponsored Boulbes wins 7th Elite French Drift Championship
GT Radial sponsored racing partner, Benjamin Boulbes has won his fourth consecutive French Elite Drift FFSA Championship. The Covid-19 shortened season comprised five rounds, in which Boulbes amassed 1,045 points, three podium finishes, and four pole positions. His 2020 triumph marks an unprecedented seventh championship for the driver, having won in 2010, 2013, 2014, and the last four years. Boulbes competes in a tuned BMW M3 E93M, which produces around 1,200CV/BHP through its Chevrolet LSX376 engine, running on the GT Radial Champiro SX2 tyre.
Continue Reading
Michelin supplies new Pilot Sport Cup N3 slick tyre to Porsche
Michelin has developed a new slick iteration of its Pilot Sport Cup UUHP tyre for the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (992). The model is the latest tyre from a technical partnership between the tyre-maker and German car brand of more than 20 years. The new 911 is reserved for the manufacturer’s single-make championships – series that are described as “a valuable proving ground” for Michelin too.
Continue Reading
Goodyear’s European motorsport renaissance continues despite pandemic challenges
It has been nearly two years since the Goodyear brand’s reintroduction to motorsport in Europe, and it is fair to say that operating in a pandemic was not part of the plan when this brand strategy was set out. Tyres & Accessories spoke to Ben Crawley, Goodyear motorsport director EMEA, about his experiences of the 2020 season. Goodyear re-entered European motorsport almost two years ago. While the brand on a global level has “never really been out of motorsport,” bearing in mind its six continuous decades of NASCAR in the USA, Crawley tells T&A that the thinking behind Goodyear’s reentry in more global series “fits into a wider brand rejuvenation” strategy. “We know we have this fantastic legacy and history in racing, and we want to be able to use that to reengage and provide some excitement for the brand and how we communicate the brand with consumers.” The motorsport strategy also coincided with Goodyear’s introduction of ultra-ultra-high performance (UUHP) Eagle F1 Supersport tyres, and “the natural synergies that come with high performance tyres for the road and racing.” Beyond the new product range, the “brand rejuvenation strategy includes the Blimp, racing, and broader advertising and marketing partnerships,” Crawley adds. Subscribers can view the video of this interview in the full version of this article.
Continue Reading
Road Classic – January release for Michelin’s Pilot Activ successor
A replacement for the Michelin Pilot Activ will begin arriving at dealers in January. Michelin says this new tyre, the Michelin Road Classic, combines an “attractive retro tread design with the latest materials and technologies.” The Road Classic line-up includes nine front tyre sizes and ten rear sizes.
Continue Reading
Bridgestone tyres for 2021 Yamaha Tracer 9
Bridgestone tyres are original equipment on yet another Yamaha motorcycle. The tyre maker will supply its Battlax Sport Touring T32 for factory fitment on the 2021 Yamaha Tracer 9 ABS and Tracer 9 GT ABS in the front wheel size 120/70ZR17M/C (58W) and rear wheel size 180/55ZR17M/C (73W).
Continue Reading
Dakar: Goodyear teaming up with Kamaz-Master again
The winning combination of Kamaz-Master and Goodyear will return to the Dakar next month. Goodyear continues in its position as official tyre supplier to the Kamaz-Master team, with Goodyear ORD again the tyre of choice for the 2021 event. Kamaz-Master’s trucks are now on their way to Saudi Arabia, where they will arrive in good time for the start of the 43rd edition of this rally-marathon on 3 January.
Continue Reading
Michelin-shod Mercedes-AMG achieves Nordschleife lap record
Six minutes, 48.047 seconds. This is the new record lap time for a series production car around the 20.832-kilometre Nürburgring Nordschleife loop. The car was a 730hp Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series, the tyres Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R.
Continue Reading
