Pirelli supplies next-generation Solberg, as he wins on Junior BRC debut
Oscar Solberg has claimed victory on Pirelli tyres on his British Rally Championship debut. Driving a Ford Fiesta R2T, the 20-year-old Norwegian won the Junior BRC category on the opening round of the 2017 season, the Border Counties Rally in southern Scotland. Solberg is the son of World Rally Championship podium-finisher Henning and nephew of Petter, who used Pirelli tyres to become world champion in 2003 with Subaru. He is just the latest second-generation rally star to show his potential with Pirelli recently: Kalle Rovanpera, 16, last year became champion in Latvia, where Solberg’s own cousin Oliver is now also embarking on his rally career.
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Pirelli ready for start of ‘revolutionary’ new era in Formula One
Pirelli’s three nominated tyre compounds will deal with new Formula One rules it states are among the most revolutionary in recent history when the 2017 season starts in Melbourne, Australia on 24-26 March. The tyres, which are 25 per cent wider, are expected to support cars that are around five seconds faster than in 2015, and have been designed with a new philosophy: the era of “planned degradation” is over, and the tyres will run with fewer temperature peaks. This should allow the drivers to push hard during every stint, Pirelli states.
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Pirelli renews GT racing range
Pirelli has renewed its range of products for GT racing at the Blancpain GT Series’ official test and media days at Paul Ricard, France. The main category of the Blancpain GT Series, with Pirelli as a long-term partner, is GT3, in which 15 brands are represented with 28 different models of car. The new slick tyre for the 2017 Blancpain GT Series, which takes in both sprint and endurance races, is called the P Zero DHD. Its new front and rear construction makes the tyre more suitable for the current field of GT3 cars, including a new profile, an optimised contact patch, and a new front size: 325/680-18 (previously 315/680-18).
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DTM: Hankook introduces grippier, faster wearing Ventus Race slick
Cars competing in the DTM this season will wear a completely new generation of Hankook slick. The new Ventus Race is the fourth generation of Hankook slick supplied to the touring car championship and comes in the front axle size 300/680 R 18 and rear axle 320/710 R 18 – the same sizes as used in 2016. Hankook Tire states that it generates more grip than its predecessor and, when pushed hard, will wear more quickly and intensively than the tyres used last season. Depending on driving style, these characteristics are expected to significantly influence lap times.
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New Porsche 911 GT3 launched with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres
Four in every five new Porsche 911 GT3s will be fitted with specially-developed Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 N1 ultra-high-performance tyres, in 245/35 ZR20 front and 305/30 ZR20 rear sizes. The road-legal track tyre is a specially modified version developed as part of the ongoing technical partnership of the German car maker and Michelin – designated by the N1 marking. Compared to its N0 marked predecessor, Michelin says the Pilot Sport Cup 2 N1 offers improved lap times and stability, as well as more sporty handling. The new 911 GT3 was launched by Porsche at the Geneva Motor Show.
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Aston Martin Valkyrie to fit Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 as original equipment tyre
The Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar will roll on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres in 265/35ZR20 front and 325/30ZR21 rear sizes. Michelin said the tyre “blurs the line between motorsport and road tyres”, as the latest generation of road-legal track tyres designed for UHP cars that are used on road and track. The Valkyrie’s high-power, high-downforce, low-weight philosophy represents Aston Martin’s attempt to redefine the limits of road car performance, and will put “unprecedented demands on its tyres”.
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Falken Motorsport adds BMW to Porsche at Nürburgring 24H
Falken will line up on the Nürburgring Nordschliefe grid with two premium German racing cars for the first time, adding a BMW M6 GT3 to the Porsche 911 GT3 R (Type 991), which debuted at the 2016 event. Falken’s Porsche was the fastest in the 24 hour race, finishing in ninth place overall. Falken will enter both cars in various VLN endurance races as well as the Green Hell event; the team says competing with two different but current GT3 vehicle marques is unusual, but confirms the depth of experience of Falken’s tyre engineers and the wide-ranging performance of the tyres. Falken’s long-term partner, Schnabl Engineering, will supervise and support the two vehicles throughout the season.
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Lamborghini sets new Nürburgring lap record on P Zero Trofeo R tyres
Lamborghini has beaten the Nürburgring Nordschleife lap record with its new Huracan Performante and specially-developed Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tyres. The time of 6m52.1s on broke the existing production car record.
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Dmack targets WRC performance gains with 2017 version of gravel tyre
Dmack wants to build on 30 fastest stage times set on gravel in 2016 at the first loose-surface event of the new FIA World Rally Championship season. The new, more-powerful 2017 world rally cars have seen tyre manufacturers upgrade products to offer greater durability and performance. At the Rally Guanajuato Mexico Dmack will offer completely new tyre specifications with enhanced compounds and construction.
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Falken to reveal race car, electric vehicle tyre at Geneva Motor Show
Falken will show its most energy-efficient tyre to date for electric and hybrid vehicles and launch its 2017 race car when the Sumitomo brand exhibits for the first time at the Geneva International Motor Show on 7-19 March 2017 (Hall 6, Booth 6238, Palexpo).
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Fast Parts Wales to donate £30,000 for 30th anniversary
Fast Parts Wales, a leading automotive motor factor in Wales, has revealed its plans to raise more than £30,000 through its Fast Parts Grand Rainbow Tour for Welsh children’s hospice, Ty Hafan, as part of the company’s 30th anniversary celebrations. Taking place on from Saturday 29 April to Monday 1 May 2017, all are welcome to participate in the family-orientated event and will have a budget of £300 to purchase a car and paint it in rainbow colours, being as creative as possible.
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MXGP riders, teams competing on Dunlop reaches new high
With the FIM Motocross World Championship (MXGP) season starting in Qatar in less than two weeks, more teams and riders than ever are committed to competing on Dunlop rubber. The tyre maker shares that a total of 23 MXGP, MX2 and WMX riders will use its products during the 2017 season, including five teams in the top category, seven in MX2 and one in the women’s WMX class. The 23 contenders are racing with Kawasaki, Yamaha, KTM, Husqvana and Honda machines.
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Heritage & high-tech: Pirelli celebrates 110th motorsport anniversary
Pirelli has celebrated 110 years of motorsport activity. At events held this week in Turin, Italy, the tyre maker celebrated its long competitive heritage at Turin’s National Automobile Museum and also opened the doors to the plant where its most advanced products are manufactured.
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Partnership contract makes Dunlop an official MXGP tyre
Dunlop has announced an increased commitment to the FIM MXGP World Championship by signing a new three-year partnership agreement to be an Official Tyre Supplier to the series.
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Dmack launches new studded winter tyre for WRC challenge on Rally Sweden
Dmack has launched its latest tyre for the FIA World Rally Championship on the second round of the 2017 series, Rally Sweden. The new studded winter tyre delivered competitive times on one of the most specialist events for tyre manufacturers. The Carlisle-based brand said the tyre has built on “both success and technical information gathered from previous seasons” in producing the DMG-ICE2 tyre. The Dmack crew of Welshman Elfyn Evans and co-driver Daniel Barritt finished sixth, equalling their best finish in Sweden.
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