New Falken app offers virtual reality look inside motorsport team
A new app from Falken will offer customers and fans the opportunity to experience its motorsport activity from a new angle. A virtual reality video shot using a 360-degree camera inside the Falken Motorsport Porsche GT3 R (Type 991) will allow viewers using head-mounted displays (HMD) to sit in as co-driver on a virtual spin around the Nürburgring as well as a pit-stop and tyre change. The app also provides useful information, including a Falken dealer search and a brand video.
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Dunlop maintains LMP2 dominance at Le Mans 24H
Dunlop continued its success in the LMP2 category at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with the top seven finishers in the class using its tyres. The adaptability of Dunlop’s tyres was key to this success, as these top seven finishers included chassis from six manufacturers. Signatech Alpine took the victory, having completed 357 laps. The Dunlop tyre range is all-new for 2016 and the LMP2 tyres demonstrated the progress the brand had hoped to achieve; all teams used the same sets for four stints, while several managed to complete five – a feat Dunlop describes as a first in the modern era of sportscar racing.
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First Azerbaijan grand prix won by Rosberg after high temperatures increase stops
Nico Rosberg piloted his Mercedes to a convincing win at the first grand prix in Azerbaijan. The championship leader started from pole and stopped just once, passing from supersoft to soft tyres, without ever losing the lead. While some cars were forced to stop twice due to the higher than expected temperatures, Pirelli said that tyre degradation was lower than expected. The top six finishers all started on the P Zero Red supersoft, stopping once to change to the P Zero Yellow soft tyre between laps 8 and 21. These soft tyre stints therefore lasted up to 43 laps, the number achieved by Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen.
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Evolution in Le Mans cars matched by Michelin tyre development programme
The developments of Michelin’s endurance racing tyres are on show at this year’s Le Mans 24 hours. The manufacturer said its winter programme, conducted between November 2015 and the FIA World Endurance Championship’s 2016 season-opener at Silverstone, comprised every class, while focusing on making its tyres more competitive against increasingly active competition. Nearly every car competing on Michelin tyres has evolved since last year, the tyre supplier explains.
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Kerbs ‘welded’ following F1 tyre safety fears
Formula One’s first visit to Baku, Azerbaijan is continuing on schedule, despite concerns over cuts found on several teams’ left-rear tyres in the first free practice session. FIA F1 director Charlie Whiting told UK broadcaster Sky Sports that bolts holding together the kerbs at turns Six and 12 had “come loose”, causing the cuts. To resolve the issue, track workers have “taken the bolts out and welded the kerbs to each other.”
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Dunlop to supply 27 cars across 4 Le Mans classes in 2016
Dunlop will supply tyres to 27 cars across all four Le Mans classes in 2016, more than any other year in the millennium. The supplier will transport more than 6,000 tyres using ten trucks; more than 80 personnel will provide fitting, engineering and support. Each class has different regulations and requirements and consequently different tyre specifications.
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Pirelli ready for debut in Baku
The Grand Prix of Europe takes place in Baku, Azerbaijan this weekend, the first time that a Formula One round has been held at this venue. For tyre supplier Pirelli, this means reliance upon simulation and acquired information rather than real data, and this makes the task of nominating tyres more complex. Based on the information at hand, Pirelli has nominated its medium, soft and supersoft tyres.
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Aston Martin Racing ‘has Dunlop Motorsport’s full attention’ in GT class
Dunlop and Aston Martin Racing describe the test of the manufacturer’s GT tyres for the first time in November in Bahrain as “a key turning point for both parties.” Dunlop committed to a full GT class development programme and Aston Martin began a return to lifting trophies. Le Mans is of great importance to both companies who are proud of their respective success there: Dunlop has 34 overall victories, more than any other tyre manufacturer, and Aston Martin took GT class wins in 2007and 2008 and the GTE Am class win in 2014.
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Cooper employee honoured with Lone Star JR Johnny Rutherford Award
Gavin Johnson, development manager for Cooper Tire Europe’s Avon Tyres Motorsport department in Melksham, UK, has won the prestigious Lone Star JR Johnny Rutherford Award. Created to honour the IndyCar participant who best exemplifies outstanding character, integrity and service, Johnson was awarded with a custom trophy and a $1,000 cheque.
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Hutchinson dominates Supersport, Superstock Isle Of Man TT races on Metzeler
Ian Hutchinson won the Supersport and Superstock categories on Metzeler’s road legal Metzeler Racetec RR tyres, developed through past road racing seasons. The tyre manufacturer’s products were fitted to the whole podium in both races, but it was Hutchinson’s imperious form that led to victories on his Team Traction Control Came BPT Yamaha YZF-R6 in Supersport and Tyco BMW S1000RR in the Superstock class.
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Pirelli travels to Canadian grand prix with P Zero Purple ultrasoft
For the seventh round of the 2016 Formula One World Championship, Pirelli will supply its new P Zero Purple ultrasoft for the second time, following its debut in Monaco. As a low-grip circuit with high track evolution, Canada’s semi-permanent Circuit Gilles Villeneuve provides a good opportunity to test out the Monaco tyre allocation (the three softest Pirelli P Zero F1 tyres) in a different context; the tyres will be used at higher speeds and with higher loads, generating higher temperatures and putting increased energy through the tyres. The circuit is also known for its high kerbs, making it a test of the tyres’ construction as well is their tread compounds.
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4-wheel record beaten by Subaru on Dunlop
While Michael Dunlop was busy making history on Dunlop, the tyre brand also saw new records set on four wheels. Running on medium compound Sport Maxx BTCC race tyres, triple British Rally Champion Mark Higgins beat the previous record for a car around the Isle of Man TT Mountain course.
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Michael Dunlop smashes Isle of Man TT Mountain Course records on Dunlop
Dunlop tyres helped Michael Dunlop to a sub-17 minute lap around the iconic 37.73 mile Isle of Man TT Mountain Course, twice shattering the existing lap record, which was held by 23-time TT winner John McGuinness. The Hawk Racing BMW rider averaged 133mph on the opening two laps of the six lap race, achieving the tyre supplier’s objective of creating the 133mph Club on day one.
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Three more years of Hankook Formula 3 tyre supply
Hankook Tire will continue to deliver its Ventus Race F200 racing tyres for the 225 hp cars fielded by Formula 3 racing teams after its cooperation with the FIA Formula 3 European Championship was extended for a further three years last month.
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Bridgestone and Saroléa to chase podium at 3rd Isle of Man TT
Bridgestone’s partnership with electric motorcycle manufacturer Saroléa continues with its third visit to the TT Zero at the Isle of Man on 8 June. Riding on two promising performances (fourth in 2014 and fifth in 2015), the all-electric Belgian motorcycle manufacturer is reaching out for the podium this year with two world class riders. Bradford’s Dean Harrison and Northern Ireland’s Lee Johnston will pilot an SP7 each, 2 bikes in 2 different colours.
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