In addition to its role as title sponsor of the Maxxis British Drift Championship, tyre manufacturer Maxxis International has announced its sponsorship of Team Japspeed. The deal will continue a successful relationship that began in 2009, in which driver Steve Biagioni won the British Drift Championship using the Maxxis MA-Z1 Drift tyre.
Subaru has selected the recently released Michelin Pilot Sport 3 as the sole OE fitment on its new Cosworth Impreza STI CS400. The 395bhp limited edition hatchback is the fruit of a partnership between Subaru in the UK and Cosworth, and makes use of the combination of on-road performance and environmental features offered by the Pilot Sport 3.
High performance motorsport technology supplier Cosworth has renewed its partnership with Beru specialist division bf1systems for the exclusive distribution and ongoing support of bf1systems’ DigiTyre products in the USA. The renewed agreement now includes the new Infra Red Tyre Pressure and Temperature Monitoring System, which utilises infrared elements built into the wheel sensors to give engineers what is said to be the most accurate tyre carcass temperature data.
Falken recently invited 40 of its top performing dealers from around the country to spend the day at Palmer Sport at the Bedford Autodrome. The unique track day involved driving and racing cars ranging from Caterhams to single seater Formula cars and off-roading.
The day began with Renault Clio Cup Racers and Porsche 911. The pocket rocket Clio’s minimal weight and maximum power made for a hair raising way to start the day while the growling power of the 911 certainly woke some people up!
Joy Rainey is set to become the first driver to compete in a long distance rally in an LPG converted vehicle. Joy will be taking part in the South American Carrera Sudamerican Challenge in May. As a strong supporter of BEN, the Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund, Joy asked that the charity’s logo be included on the livery of her vehicle to increase awareness of the Fund. Nicholson McLaren Engines has converted a Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 4×4 to run on liquid petroleum gas. This will be the first vehicle to be competitively driven in a long distance rally using LPG.
With Formula one’s team submission deadline looming, the future of the Jaguar team hung in the balance. That was until today, when Austrian owned drinks company, Red Bull, stepped in and rescued Jaguar from motorsport extinction. The new Red Bull Racing team’s tyre choice remains unclear.
At the same time as selling the Jaguar team, Ford has also sold engine manufacturer and Formula 1 supplier, Cosworth, to Mr Kevin Volkhoven, known for his associsiton with the Champcar series. Cosworth will supply Red Bull Racing with engines, while Minardi will receive identically constructed engines. Minardi however, will use old Cosworth engines for the first four races of next season. Jordan, a team that also had a question mark over which manufacturer would supply its engines, will now be supplied by Toyota.
Jaguar is to pull out of Formula One at the end of 2004 and Ford’s engine maker Cosworth is also up for sale. F1 representatives believe this decision will have huge affects on the sport, which is under threat from carmakers seeking to establish a rival championship. The news certainly won’t be received well by Michelin, Jaguar’s F1 tyre supplier.
Joe Greenwell, chairman and CEO Jaguar and Land Rover said: Jaguar’s presence in Formula One has been a valuable marketing and brand awareness platform particularly outside our main markets of the US and the UK. However it was our collective view that it is time for Jaguar Cars to focus 100 per cent on our core business.”
It is thought that the company could no longer financially compete with rivals BMW and Mercedes, partners to Williams and McLaren. World champions Ferrari and new arrivals Toyota have estimated budgets in excess of $200 million a year. “It is so expensive to be successful in Formula One,” said Ford vice-president Richard Parry-Jones. “The money the sport generates is not distributed equitably to the various stakeholders,” he continued.
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