Autosport Show 2010
The FIA has extended its World Rally Championship (WRC) control tyre deal with Pirelli for another year, reportedly enabling it to take another year to decide whether or not to open up the series up to competing tyre makers in 2012. Pirelli was the only firm to tender for the 2011-2013 contract, but Autosport reported that the FIA and Pirelli reached a “single season solution” in talks.
Michelin is reportedly close to returning to Formula One, albeit not as a standard tyre supplier. Although the news remains unconfirmed, Autosport reported that the French tyre manufacturer is in “advanced negotiations with the FIA about the terms of a return for the first time since it quit at the end of 2006.” A formal announcement confirming Michelin’s role is expected this month, according to the reports.
Cold water has been poured upon rumours that Bridgestone is reconsidering its decision to end its Formula 1 tyre supply after the 2010 season. According to Autosport, Bridgestone's director of motorsport Hiroshi Yasukawa said "unfortunately our company has made the decision, and nothing has changed."
The February 2010 edition of Tyres & Accessories is now available to subscribers (just click more to view the virtual edition). This issue features the Tyre Recovery Business, reports on the recent Autosport/Aftermarket Show, and preview's the forthcoming Tyrexpo Africa trade fair.
Reports on Wednesday 3 February suggest that Pirelli is about to be confirmed as the tyre supplier for the World Rally Championship after its current deal runs out at the end of the 2010 season. An anonymous source for Autosport's report suggests that the Italian manufacturer is in fact “the only firm in the running for the contract. We saw that when the envelope with the tenders in was opened last year.” Autosport also states that the value of the company’s bid is likely to be some way short of the 11 million euros paid as part of the current three-year deal. The final decision will be made at a World Motorsport Council meeting in March.
As a brand somewhat synonymous with glamour and flare, Pirelli and the Autosport International Show are an excellent fit. The Italian brand took the opportunity of the 2010 show to display its vast array of motorsport tyres and Pirelli seemed sure that one particular model was turning the most heads among the 85,000 visitors. The P Zero Trofeo proved, in Pirelli’s opinion, to be “the toast” of this year’s show.
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Present at the Autosport International Engineering Show, Oxfordshire company Stack displayed its battery-free TPMS systems, which it believes “completely redefines tyre pressure monitoring in motorsport”. Based on patented SAW sensor technology, the company says problems associated with mounting batteries and complicated electronics in sensors on wheels eliminated.
The much-hyped snow storm that turned much of the United Kingdom white earlier in the month did not prevent Autosport International, Europe’s largest motorsport trade show, from celebrating its 20th anniversary in style at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, UK, on 14-17 January 2010. Reportedly, over 85,000 visitors made the trip to the West Midlands, helping trade to increase by 10 per cent on the previous year in spite of the weather. Perhaps a general thawing in the global economic situation was more on the minds of visitors than the snow drifts hastily formed by NEC staff clearing the car parks for visitors when Tyres & Accessories arrived on Thursday 14 January to take in stands representing tyre manufacturers Dunlop, Pirelli, Yokohama and Hoosier Tire, as well as the many other automotive products and servicing equipment on display.
With over 85,000 visitors coming through the doors across the four-day Autosport International Show from 14-17 January, Dunlop was keen to welcome as many as possible onto its large 464 sqm stand. The brand featured a variety of live and interactive environment including a selection of cars from championships such as the British Touring Car Championship, Le Mans 24 hours, Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup Radical, FRT Moto2 Bike, Formula Ford and Autosport Young Guns.
The JMW Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage GT2, which will race in the 2010 Le Mans Series was described as a real crowd-pleaser. Fully Dunlop branded, the car was one of the main features on the stand sitting underneath the famous Dunlop Bridge which was replicated on the stand. Next to these spectacular vehicles, Dunlop hosted its own media stage where racing stars such as Colin Turkington, Johnny Herbert and Matt Neal were interviewed throughout the show.
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Toyo Tires have developed a specific fitment tailored to the needs of the Nissan R35 GTR. The 285/35 ZR 20 (100Y) front and 315/30 ZR 20 (101Y) rear sizes have been added to the Proxes R888 range. At the Autosport Show in January 2010, the tyres were fitted to the Sumo Power 660bhp Nissan R35 GTR demonstration car on the Time Attack stand. The Time Attack series has chosen the R888 as its control tyre. The series includes cars that have in excess of 700bhp, giving the R888s have a track record (so to speak) of handling the type of power output expected from such highly powered sports cars.
Toyo’s new Proxes R1R has been released into the UK market. Designed for trackday enthusiasts, the tyre met its market on the Time Attack stand at the Autosport Show. Japanese car giant Mitsubishi chose to have the Toyo Proxes R1R as original equipment for its latest Evo, the Evo 10 FQ-400 which has over 400bhp (hence the name). It is available in sizes from 15” to 18” and in profiles from 55 series to 35 series.
The UK distributor for Yokohama tyres and replacement alloy wheels from TSW, MAK and Advanti, Yokohama HPT Ltd, kicked off its new year this week at the annual Autosport International show at the NEC. The company is exhibiting its full range of Yokohama high performance road and motorsport tyres, its key ranges of alloy wheels while the centrepiece of its stand is the innovative Tesla Roadster Sport, the world’s first all-electric track day car.
Dunlop signed a contract to supply the Britcar GT and Production Championships for a further four seasons at the Autosport International Show at Birmingham’s NEC today (14 January 2010. The Britcar GT Championship is said to be the biggest championship of its type in the UK. Bringing endurance racing to circuits all over the UK, Britcar has become the country’s fastest and most popular National GT Championship. 2010 will see the return of the Britcar 24 hour race, Britain’s ‘blue-riband’ endurance racing event at Silverstone on 2 – 3 October.
A brand new motor racing championship has been announced for young drivers eager to progress their racing careers. ‘Dunlop Autosport Young Guns’ is supported by the Birmingham based motorsport tyre manufacturer Dunlop and uses single-seater JKS F75 cars, which have a striking visual resemblance to F1. Drivers aged 16-19 now have a helpful extra rung in the ladder to success, which could take them on to the pinnacle of motorsport in the tyre tracks of champions such as Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton. Along with other great racing cars, a Dunlop Autosport Young Guns car will be on display at the Autosport International Show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, which runs from 14–17 January. There will also be information available about the championship at the show.
This year Toyo Tires are the official group sponsor at the Goodwood Revival for the first time. Sarah Clavey, senior marketing executive at Toyo Tires commented: “Toyo Tyres have achieved great success within a relatively short period in the Trackday and motorsport arena. Our range of motorsport tyres, led by the Proxes R888 are fast becoming the tyre of choice by many competitors and in many championships. As the Goodwood Revival celebrates all aspects of motorsports, from past to present, we are very excited to be associated with such a prestigious event which brings together all of our motorsport values.”
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