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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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Goodyear finalises Pure ETCR tyre specification
In August Goodyear unveiled the treaded tyre it will supply to the new Pure ETCR electric touring car championship when it gets underway next year, and since then has benefitted from technical feedback supplied by series promoter Eurosport Events and the technical department at WSC Group. Working with this feedback, Goodyear has finalised the specification of the specially-developed Eagle F1 SuperSport race tyre.
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Giti Tire delivers podium finishes in European on, off road events
Giti Tire’s abbreviated 2020 truck racing calendar included events in Germany, the UK and Poland has delivered impressive results for the company. The season started in July at the Dekra EuroSpeedway Lausitzring racetrack in Schipkau where the new fully race-prepared and Giti liveried MAN TGX truck made its debut. Weighing in at 5,300kg, the unit employs a 12.9 litre D26 engine capable of producing 1,000BHP. Driven by Martin Gibson, Giti Tire’s manager - EU Testing Centre and Motorsport UK, the team recorded two first and two second place finishes across all four races.
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Motorsport UK confirms English restart on 2 December
Motorsport UK has confirmed that the sport will resume in England, subject to local restrictions, with effect from 2 December when the second national lockdown period expires. Venues in Tier 1 and Tier 2 regions will be allowed to admit spectators on a limited basis, the organisation adds.
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European motocross ‘excellent showcase’ for Maxxis MaxxCross range
Maxxis continued its 2019 MXGP progress in the 2020 season, with its MaxxCross range helping to deliver podiums in several European classifications. For the second consecutive year, a rider on MaxxCross tyres won the European 125cc Motocross Championship with Andrea Bonacorsi of Fantic Motor factory team after the title win in 2019 with Mattia Guadagnini. The manufacturer said that the newest addition to the MaxxCross range, the MX-SM sand tyre, had proven its performance alongside the championship-winning MX-ST, offering consistent high performance.
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Pirelli head of F1 and car racing tests positive for Covid-19
The exclusive tyre supplier to Formula 1, Pirelli has confirmed that Mario Isola, head of F1 and car racing, has tested positive for Covid-19. The test result was returned on Sunday 15 November during the series’ regular Covid testing schedule at the Turkish Grand Prix. Pirelli adds that while he is asymptomatic, Isola is now isolating and will adhere to local medical guidelines. All close contacts have been declared, retested, and no further positive cases have been returned. Isola will be repatriated to Italy following all the relevant stringent health protocols.
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3 more years: Dunlop’s Moto2 & Moto3 tyre supply extended
The FIM Moto2 and Moto3 World Championships will continue racing on Dunlop tyres for at least another three years following the extension of Dunlop’s contract with Dorna Sports. This means that Dunlop, who has partnered with Grand Prix motorcycle racing since its inauguration in 1949, will exclusively supply the two classes until at least the end of the 2023 season.
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Pirelli to conclude 2020 British GT season at Silverstone
The UK’s premier GT racing series concludes with a three-hour race at the home of British motorsport this weekend. With all four class titles up for grabs, and a full grid of 38 cars, tyre supplier Pirelli will play a crucial role. Pirelli will supply the P Zero DHE to GT3 and the P Zero DHB to GT4, as well as the Cinturato WH for wet weather. In the GTC class, the Porsches will use DHD2 on the front with DHE on the rear, and the Ferrari 488 Challenge will use bespoke fitment DH tyres for this car. Jonathan Wells, Pirelli UK motorsport manager, said that Silverstone would provide a good test for tyres, as “the most aggressive circuit on this year’s calendar, with extreme levels of lateral demand on the tyres and high top-speeds.”
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Bridgestone partners Indy Autonomous Challenge
Bridgestone has formed a partnership with the Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC). The global competition for university teams challenges students to programme a modified Dallara IL-15 race car and compete in the world’s first autonomous high-speed, head-to-head race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS). Bridgestone will exclusively supply tyres for the event, scheduled for 23 October, 2021. The tyre manufacturer said that it will work closely with the IAC and its participating teams “on a collective vision to push the boundaries of self-driving car technology.” Bridgestone added that it wants the partnership to “increase public awareness of the impact that automation can have on society.”
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Non-elite motorsport suspended until early December
Motorsport UK has consulted on the implications for motorsport in England with the Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in respect of the plan to enter a four-week national lockdown on Thursday 5 November.
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Hankook celebrates 10 years with the DTM
Hankook and German touring car series DTM are marking a decade-long partnership this season. The manufacturer has supplied tyres at more than 150 races, with the Hankook Ventus Race demonstrating its quality in a diverse range of conditions. Following its DTM debut in 2011, Hankook has developed the tyre in four phases to tackle new developments in the series.
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