The International FIA-GT Championship will take the green flag this weekend. The series begins at the historic Silverstone circuit after the first event scheduled in Bucharest was postponed to the autumn. Pirelli Competizioni will be at the British track, aiming for top performance and significant results.
Power and Technology moving forward is the theme of the Hanksugi Japan stand at this year’s Essen show. As a result of the company’s on-going research and development programme, Hanksugi Japan is pleased to be able to launch the latest tread patterns for 2006 at Essen. These are HS26+ HS28+ HS38.
After successful involvement in the first two events, leading UK exhaust and car parts supplier CES (UK) has stepped up its support as co-sponsor of the annual Three Castles Welsh Classic Trial (31 May – 3 June), the new single centre, multi-day, classic car rally for the fourth year. This has become Britain’s most popular classic car rally since being introduced in 2003.
Viking International has named the winners of its Millennium competition. The Ultra High Performance Millennium tyre range, launched at the beginning of the year, was introduced alongside an exclusive competition for Viking’s business development staff, with the chance to win vouchers towards an exotic holiday destination of their choice.
First prize went to David Le Tall for exceptional sales results, closely followed by runner up, Steve Cockburn. They were presented with their holiday vouchers at the end of March by John Kemp, managing director for Viking International.
(Akron/Tire Review – Korea Times) Corporate competitiveness is determined by speed, not by volume, Kumho Asiana Group chairman Park Sam-koo told employees this week. In his speech to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the group’s foundation at its headquarters in Seoul, Park said, “Speed is the controlling weapon in the competition among enterprises in the 21st century.’’
(Akron/Tire Review) The Shanghai Daily reported last week that Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has launched a consumer tyre service plan in China, responding to a similar scheme unveiled by Groupe Michelin earlier in the week. Much like Michelin’s plan, Goodyear will offer Chinese tyre buyers a two-year package that includes 24-hour roadside assistance, flat tyre repair, towing and other services.
To help Sven’s team along at the World Cup Snap-on Equipment has launched a competition to win two VIP tickets to England’s opening game against Paraguay on June 10th. The location couldn’t be better as the game is being played in Frankfurt, which is only a few kilometres north of Hofmann’s head office in Pfungstadt. The package will include hotel accommodation, transport to the stadium, hospitality suite, plus a commemorative gift.
Results from regional semi-finals have been collated Tyres & Accessories can now announce the names of the 12 technicians who will compete for the title Top Technician 2006. Four technicians will compete each day at the live final, held at the Automotive Trade Show (25-27 April, NEC, Birmingham) on the Top Technician stand, number 1531.
Outlaw Wheels are hitting the trail this spring, with two new designs joining the brand’s 10-wheel line-up. Drawing heavily on Western imagery with a high-octane, scarlet-clad cowgirl fronting the ad and merchandising campaign, Outlaw is aiming to be one of the most sought-after wheel brands of 2006.
Have you turned a boring and average motor into a blinged up, racing machine? If so, a new national competition from Auto Trader might interest you. The well-known magazine’s ‘Curves and Chrome’ competition is looking to find the “Best Amateur Modified Car” which will win £4,000 in cash and the “Best Professional Modified Car” which will win three weeks of advertising, with a full page advert, in their local Auto Trader magazine.
Following the return of the most successful Fulda Challenge UK team ever, organisers of the extreme arctic adventure are now accepting applications for the 2007 event.
The Fulda Challenge takes place early each year, in the Yukon Territory of Canada. After touching down in the Yukon’s capital of Whitehorse, the demanding schedule for the weeklong event will see the teams cover over 2,000km surrounded by spectacular frozen scenery.
The names of finalists in the Top Technician 2006 competition will be announced on March 24. The live final will be held at the Automotive Trade Show (25-27 April, NEC Birmingham) on the Top Technician stand, number 1531.
Of the 500 technicians that originally entered, only 36 were invited to attend the semi finals at three regional ATA approved test centres in Croydon, Hinckley and Manchester. They undertook ATA at diagnostic level and were independently assessed for the purposes of the competition by Mark Softley from MototeK and Ian Gillgrass from the IMI.
SpeedTV.com has reported that McLaren boss, Ron Dennis, has hinted that Michelin’s announced withdrawal from F1 might not be definitive. Dennis said that the French company might change its position and continue into 2007 for what is supposed to be the last season of tyre competition. “Bridgestone has opened discussions with the teams and us as well. But I think there’s also some indication that it may change. We are not at this stage focusing on next year’s tyre supply. At the moment we’re very comfortable that Michelin have done a very good job.
“Of course we’re looking at two Ferraris on the front row on Bridgestone, and it’s a little confusing to see the pace of the other teams on Bridgestone, so we don’t know where we are. But I think Michelin has done a very good job, and we’d love them to continue, and I don’t think that is beyond the realms of possibility,” Dennis is reported to have said.
The Maxxis bias ply M-8060 Trepador competition tyre has enjoyed considerable off-road success – so much so that Maxxis has developed a radial version for day-to-day use. The M-8060 Trepador radial is designed to combine excellent traction with smooth handling and is available in 37×12.5 17, 37×12.5-16 and 40×13.5-17 sizes.
An aggressive directional tread element arrangement ensures a uniform tread contact area for sure-footed handling on all wet and dry surfaces, while the multi-stage staggered shoulder lugs give added control on uneven terrain, especially boggy ground and snow.
Multi-curve tread siping not only improves traction on loose dirt, but also enhances braking and driving performance. A double steel belt construction improves puncture resistance and provides long-lasting wear and uniformity, while a jointless spiral-wrapped full nylon cap boosts strength and stability.
Kumho has supplied some 85 per cent of the tyres in use on official Winter Olympics shuttle cars. Athletes, officials, members of the Olympic committee, VIPs are all relying on Kumho I’Zen XW KW17 snow tyres when it comes to being transferred between competition sites.
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