Nexen has been awarded the Red Dot Design Award 2012 for its N9000 tyre. “Our N9000’s competitiveness is proven by its latest win, as the Red Dot Design Award 2012 is widely known as one of the world’s top three global design accolades,” said Lee Hyun Bong, CEO of Nexen Tyre. “This is a great achievement for our design strategy as it comes so close after Nexen’s other wins, the IF Design Award 2010 and Good Design Award 2011.”
The tyre supply partnership between Michelin and Renault Sport Technologies for the World Series by Renault (WSR) championship has been extended until 2015. The tyre maker says Renault Sport Technologies chose to prolong its association with Michelin on the basis of its racing tyres’ performance and its commitment to develop specific tyres for use by WSR competitors. Michelin adds that the extension of the partnership between it and Renault Sport Technologies stands out as an opportunity to consolidate the commercial relationship between the two entities, and also makes a significant contribution to the development of Michelin’s new ranges of motorsport tyres.
The Royal Automobile Club will host its first Charity Cup Golf Competition to raise money for BEN at Woodcote Park on Tuesday 24 April. The Club will donate all funds raised from the event to BEN, the UK's only charity for those who work in the automotive and related industries, as well as their dependents; and the Henry Surtees Foundation.
"The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is disappointed at the Department for Transport’s (DfT) decision not to raise the standard MOT fee this year" said Stuart James, IGA director. The DfT have decided that during 2012 the set price for an MOT will remain at £54.85.
James continued: The majority of MOT test stations are small to medium sized businesses that are currently battling with increasing costs and declining revenue. The increase in cost would allow these already struggling businesses to recoup some of the revenue."
Pirelli announced last month that Benfleet Jet Wheel and Tyres was its 2011 Pirelli Performance Centre of the year. The Essex-based branch was presented with the prestigious award at the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One team’s Operations Centre in Brackley on 14 February. Pirelli’s 83 Performance Centres are audited high-performance tyre dealerships, allowing Pirelli to direct owners of high performance cars in confidence.
Tyre manufacturer, Falken has unveiled its 2012 Porsche 997 RSR livery for the American Le Mans Series ahead of its second Sebring test on 28 and 29 February. Bryan Sellers will share the new for 2012 car with Wolf Henzler in the ALMS season opener at the Florida venue on 17 March.
Tyre manufacturer Maxxis was among the first to offer congratulations to Liverpool FC after it won the Carling Cup yesterday (26 February), to establish a record eight victories in the League Cup competition.
Throughout November 2011 automotive industry charity, BEN ran a text competition with a special edition, top of the range Snap-on McLaren Sport tool box which had been signed by Formula One's Jenson Button the star prize. 4,300 people entered, raising £4,000 for BEN. Entrants were required to text the answer to the question: ‘BEN is the official charity of which industry?' Thousands of people responded with the correct answer – automotive – and picked at random was the winner from Devon.
Two Tyrespot customers have enjoyed an all expenses paid trip to Milan, thanks to a joint promotion run with Pirelli. Graham and Sheila Patterson from Chester-le-Street, County Durham won the prize, including flights, hotel, transfers and tickets to Pirelli-sponsored Inter Milan, having entered the competition by buying Pirelli’s premium tyres at the largest independent tyre supplier in North East England.
Bridgestone is to be the title sponsor of field hockey’s equivalent of cricket’s Indian Premier League, a competition designed to raise the profile of the sport in one of its key markets. The eight-franchise Bridgestone World Series Hockey competition starts on 29 February in Chandigarh, with the home Comets taking on the Bhopal Badshahs. The tournament will be broadcast in India on the Neo Sports network, with international coverage providers still to be announced. In addition to the 150 Indians, players will participate from around the world, including some from the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the USA.
Pirelli has launched its fifth year of partnership with the GT Cup at Brands Hatch. Drivers used Pirelli’s intermediate tyres in damp conditions on the day, using the Indy circuit – the shortest configuration of the track – to test high-speed stability in fast corners such as Paddock Hill Bend and traction coming out of the slow hairpin at Druids. The GT Cup’s first round takes place at Donington Park from 28-29 April.
Federal has announced that it will continue its motorsport activities through the supply of the 2012 RACEceiver US Legend Cars series, which runs from 19 February until 6 October. It has previously used its 595 ultra high performance tyre in the series in the 2010 and 2011 seasons. “Federal Tire has a lengthy and rich heritage in the leading motorsport categories across the world; we are proud and excited to enter the new chapter of such a promising partnership with US Legend Cars to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the fun and affordable racing series in which anyone can compete,” commented Taz Yeh, project manager of Federal Motorsports.
Speculation still exists regarding Michelin’s furtively-named “Project Cougar”, however it appears possible the Felidae plan may find a home in Anderson County, a location in the US state of South Carolina where the tyre maker already employs some 700 workers. Michelin North America has been named as the company considering setting up two projects in the area. Should they go head in Anderson County, these projects would be established with an investment said to be at least US$550 million and likely to be in the “$600 million to $1 billion” range if built according to plan.
Swedish company Trelleborg has announced a number of organisational changes in preparation for the start of a light and heavy vehicle anti-vibration solutions joint venture with Germany’s Freudenberg & Co. KG. Trelleborg says the changes will “further strengthen and focus the Group.” The planned reorganisation does not involve company’s tyre making operation, Trelleborg Wheel Systems.
Infinity has announced plans to expand and customise its DNA campaign to fit the national markets where it operates. The company describes its new campaign as featuring “iconic monuments re-interpreted using an Infinity Tyre.” In addition Infinity has revealed that the company will run a competition which will include trips to some very exciting destinations. Prizes will include trips to some very exciting destinations.
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