Formula One 2009, Round Eight: Brawn, Button Beaten in Britain
Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber ensured that Red Bull Racing scored its first one-two of the Formula One season at a Silverstone Grand Prix somewhat overshadowed by an ongoing spat between the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA). Rubens Barrichello, championship leader Jenson Button’s Brawn GP teammate took third spot on the podium, while 2009’s leading contender was able to grab only three points at his home race in P6. Drivers’ Championship holder Lewis Hamilton continued a miserable third season following the highs of his first two years in sixteenth. Meanwhile the row between the eight teams threatening to create an offshoot championship and the FIA continues, following the announcement of a budget cap system to be introduced in 2010. On its website, the FIA argues in a statement dated 16 June 2009 that the sport “cannot sustain” both “technical freedom” and “the freedom to spend without limit”, calling the ability of major car companies to do the latter “insane in the current climate”.
Continue ReadingEvo Corse Release Dakar Land Rover Wheel into Aftermarket
Evo Corse has released its ‘Dakar’ wheel into the aftermarket. According to the company, the 16 x 7-inch wheel has also proven its worth on the Land Rovers of the British Army in Iraq and Afghanistan. Each wheel is low pressure cast in a permanent steel mould from A356 Primary aluminium alloy, before being receiving a T6 heat treatment to avoid imperfections. The wheels are then CNC machined both front and rear to get the precise spoke profile and to eliminate any possible imbalance. The Dakar is specified up to a load index of 1500kg per corner, meaning that light armoured applications and full loads are both safely within Evo Corse’s stringent design criteria.
Continue ReadingContinental Opens Thai Automotive Factory
A new facility belonging to Continental AG subsidiary Continental Automotive (Thailand) has opened in Amata City. The 11,500 square metre factory, built with an investment of approximately five billion baht (£90.2 million), will produce powertrain diesel injectors, high pressure pumps and common rail assemblies. The production of interior electronics is also planned. While around 70 per cent of total output will ultimately go to domestic vehicle manufacturers – the factory will start supplying the Thai market next year – the first exports to Europe, China and India are expected to get underway before the end of June.
Continue ReadingPirelli P Zero OE on New Lotus Evora
Lotus Cars Limited has selected Pirelli as the principal supplier of tyres for the new Lotus Evora, with the company’s P Zero tyre the product of choice. The homologated size on the Evora is the 225/40ZR18 Y XL on the front and 255/35ZR19 Y XL on the rear. The Evora is the first all new Lotus to be released since the iconic Elise roadster in 1995. Mathew Becker, executive engineer of vehicle dynamics for Lotus believes that the Pirelli P Zero enhances the dynamic performance of the Evora: “The Lotus Evora has been developed to deliver class-leading steering and handling performance whilst maintaining excellent ride quality. The exceptional abilities of Pirelli’s P Zeros enhances these vital elements and we have been impressed with the excellent steering linearity and consistent grip levels that this particular tyre provides in all conditions.”
Continue ReadingFirst Stop Network Hosts Charity F1 Event
A week before the Formula One roadshow hit Silverstone, Carson Tyre & Autocare – part of the First Stop network of tyre dealerships, hosted the event at department store Leekes, in Melksham, where they showcased a stunning replica F1 car and simulator to help raise money for charity. Visitors to the Saturday, 13 June event had the chance to have their picture taken by the F1 car and test their driving skills on the simulator - both for a small charity donation. Bridgestone has declared the event “a huge success”, raising £200 for the British Heart Foundation. All visitors were presented with Bridgestone merchandise and given the chance to enter a prize draw to win an exclusive F1 factory tour of the Williams facility in Grove, Oxfordshire. First Stop representatives and Carson Tyre & Autocare staff, who were on hand during the day, also used the event to give out safety and product advice.
Continue ReadingWin MotoGP Tickets and Prizes with National
Motorcycle Grand Prix fans take note – National Tyres and Autocare is giving visitors to its national.co.uk website the opportunity to win. Up for grabs are tickets to the paddock at Donnington on July 25 and 26 plus limited edition autographed prints of some of the biggest names in MotoGP. National is running the free prize draw in conjunction with Bridgestone who donated the motorcycle prizes. For a chance to win tickets, visit the website before July 6, 2009. The autographed print draw will be separately held on August 28. No purchase is necessary in order to enter, assures National.
Continue ReadingVMI introduces New Body Ply Stock Splice Handling System
In mid-June the VMI Group reported the introduction of its new system for body ply stock splice handling. The company claims its new system offers an advance on previous models in that it not only prevents interference between splices from two different piles – it does this in a manner that reduces scrap and should also facilitate a high level of uniformity. Body ply stock splice detection is a standard feature on VMI tyre building machines. The system measures the position of all stock splices in the body ply. If a stock splice comes to close to one of the body ply’s ends, the system automatically slices off a piece of material to prevent the stock splice being located too close to its machine splice within the tyre.
Continue ReadingChinese Ministry Expresses “Deep Regret” after US Tyre Ruling
Continuing today’s theme of the fallout from the US International Trade Commission’s ruling that Chinese imports have disrupted the country’s markets, China’s Ministry of Commerce has expressed its “deep regret” at the decision. Yao Jian, a Commerce Ministry spokesperson posted the department’s reaction to the events on the ministry’s website: “China has repeatedly expressed its opposition to foreign governments using safeguard clauses to launch investigations of Chinese products. The decision does not conform to objective facts, and also violates relevant World Trade Organisation rules in addition to U.S. law. We hope the U.S. will fully consider the actual situation of this case and proceed from the overall interests of the two countries industries,” Yao said. Reuters reports that lawyers acting on behalf of Chinese manufacturers are arguing that US companies’ neglect of the low range market had occurred before they moved into the marketplace. The news organisation also notes that the complaint, which originated from the United Steelworkers, had not been voiced by US tyre producers.
Continue ReadingAvon Tyres helps Secure First Three-Wheel TT Victory
Dave Molyneux’s Avon shod Suzuki has given the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer its very first three-wheeled victory at the Isle of Man TT. Molyneux and passenger Daniel Sayle’s victory with A&J Racing Suzuki brings Molyneux’s TT win tally to 14, and marks the 20th anniversary of his first victory on the island. “The Avons worked brilliantly and were a pleasure to use,” Molyneux commented. “I was delighted to use Avons this year, as I’ve not used them since 1993 when I won on them. In fact my first race win at the TT in 1989 was on Avons too!
Continue ReadingITC Rules in Favour of USW Petition
The quantity of Chinese made consumer tyres is indeed harming the local industry, the US International Trade Decision has ruled. On June 18 the ITC voted 4-2 in favour of a United Steelworkers initiated petition, which seeks to restrict permissible imports to 2005 levels. A ruling in favour of the petition means the ITC will meet again later in June to decide upon recommendations for the Obama administration.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Gets Dealers Rugby Ready
When you hear the word ‘lion’ do your thoughts turn to the carnivorous big cat? No? Then Goodyear won’t have much trouble making you “Rugby Ready”. The company is helping its dealers catch the 15 a side fever with a new promotion it hopes will “get customers off the rugby pitch and into the forecourts.” In celebration of the brand’s partnership with the Rugby Football Union and the International Rugby Board’s Rugby Ready programme, Goodyear is offering rugby paraphernalia to dealers who buy direct from the company during June and July.
Continue ReadingRetreads Deliver 30% Lower Carbon Footprint – Study
An independent study commissioned by the Centre for Remanufacturing and Reuse has shown that the process required to manufacture and retreaded tyres produces around 30 per cent less carbon emissions that that required to produce a new tyre. Testing for the study was carried out by carbon footprint specialists Best Foot Forward and involved the use of new and retreaded 17.5-inch light commercial vehicle tyres. According to the results obtained, the manufacture of a new 17.5-inch tyre produces 86.9 kilograms (191.6 pounds) of CO2 emissions compared to 60.5 kilograms (133.4 pounds) CO2 for an equivalent retreaded tyre; a difference of 30.4 per cent.
Continue ReadingFurther US Reaction to ITC Ruling: Wait and See
While no one appeared to be surprised by the US International Trade Commission ruling yesterday on the USW’s petition to limit the importation of “Made in China” tyres, most took a wait and see attitude about the ruling. The ITC voted 4-2 in favor of the union petition, saying that the growth in passenger tyre exports from China to the U.S. caused “disruption” in the US market. The ITC will send its specific ruling and suggested remedy on to the president by the end of this month, and the Obama Administration is slated to act by the end of September. “We anticipate that the final decisions on remedies will improve domestic job security, increase production and sales, and allow for investment in capital equipment to better compete in the global market for the long term,” said Tom Conway, USW International vice president. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingMichelin Launches 4×4 Latitude Cross
In the first week of June, Michelin held the dealer launch of its latest 4x4 tyre, the multi-purpose Latitude Cross – a tyre designed for 65 per cent road and 35 per cent off-road use. Over the course of the week, 90 dealers from around the UK and Ireland attended the event which was based at Ansty Hall Hotel near Coventry. Each day started with a presentation on where the new tyre fits into Michelin’s existing Latitude 4x4 range. After that, the dealers were given the chance to experience the new product themselves. A Land Rover Defender 110 and two Freelanders, two Toyota Hi-Lux pick-ups and two Volkswagen Touaregs were utilised to show the full range of the tyre’s on and off-road capabilities.
Continue ReadingUS Passes Scrappage Scheme Bill
The US senate dotted the final “i” on its “Cash for Clunkers” scheme – an answer to the UK’s own scrappage deal dubbed, with equal panache, “Bangers for Cash” – on 19 June. The scrappage bill will allocate $1 billion for vouchers worth between $3,500 and $4,500 when a customer trades in an old vehicle for a new one. However, unlike the British government’s reliance on customers to make the decision to buy more ecologically friendly products, the US programme is contingent on the fact that the traded-in vehicle achieves 18mpg or fewer and the new one supersedes the original figure by 4mpg (car), 2mpg (small truck or SUV) or 1mpg (large truck or van). Deutsche Bank reports estimate that 28 per cent of the relevant US car parc will qualify for the deal, while it also calls the potential benefits to the US auto industry “relatively modest”. It continues, “Given the fact that most eligible vehicles will be trucks, we believe that a disproportionate benefit will accrue to the US automakers (and to suppliers such as American Axle).”
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