Goodyear has announced that customers choosing Optional Performance Package on the recently unveiled 2011 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 will receive its Eagle F1 SuperCar G:2 UHP tyres as standard fitment. The tyre, tested on some of the most renowned road courses in North America, appears on the new Mustang this year in sizes P265/40ZR19 and P285/35ZR20.
Avon Tyres has put its name to two regional Formula Ford Championships for 2010; they will be known as the Avon Tyres Club Formula Ford Northern Championship and Avon Tyres Club Formula Ford Southern Championship. Having been the control tyre throughout Formula Ford 1600 racing for many years, the sponsorship of the two Club Championships, organised by the British Racing & Sports Car Club (BRSCC), was a natural progression for the brand: “Our tyres are synonymous with Formula Ford so we are delighted to support the marque’s leading entry level championship,” said Roger Everson, sales and marketing manager for the Avon Tyres Racing Division.
Pirelli celebrated a first place finish at the weekend’s Monte Carlo Rally with partner Ford and driver Mikko Hirvonen following a successful debut of the Ford Fiesta Super 2000, the only car officially fitted by Pirelli in the event. Leading from the start, Pirelli says the Finnish rally star was able to easily overcome the challenges of changing road conditions in his Ford Fiesta Super 2000 thanks to the Winter Sottozero and P Zero tyres it was fitted with – tyres capable of adapting to all the conditions encountered, from the ice in the mountain passes to the dry coastal asphalt.
Following VOSA’s decision to publish MOT test failure data last week, the BBC is reporting details of a similar report from German motor testing authority TUV. While VOSA was pushed into publishing the failure information for the first time on the 11 January 2010 after a Freedom of Information (FoI) request made by the BBC, over in Deutschland the TUV data is said to have become so popular that the authorities are considering translating it into English.
Yokohama-supported rally driver Tom Cave has ended his 2009 rally season in 44th place overall, having attained a third in class during the Rally of Great Britain and eighth overall and first in class in the Rally of Scotland. The latter, notes the tyre maker, marked the best result for a Ford in the 2009 Intercontinental Rally Challenge and would have netted him a championship point had the marque been registered for the series.
Goodyear has announced that the 2010 Toyota Prius will fit its Assurance Fuel Max tyres as standard in the US. According to the company, the fitment for the popular Prius will be Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max tyres in size P195/65R15. The selection of the new Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max for the 2010 Toyota Prius follows earlier announcements that the tyre will be fitted on the 2010 Ford Fusion S and the exclusive fitment for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt.
One is looking to wrap up another championship while the other is trying to end the season in the top three. That is what awaits Yokohama Tire Corporation-sponsored off-roaders Heidi and Cameron Steele as they head to Ensenada, Mexico, November 19-22, for the gruelling, season-ending race at the 42nd annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. Known as off-road's "power couple," the San Clemente, California-based Steeles have a lot riding on their Yokohama tires as they prepare for the legendary battle south of the border.
The organisers of the Formula Ford series have announced Dunlop’s selection as tyre supplier and title sponsor at next season’s Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain. New slick and wet weather Formula Ford radials are currently under development by Dunlop and will be adopted in Britain in 2010.
Osella BMW PA20/S driver, Joerg Weidinger has clinched the German Hillclimb title for the 2009 season on Avon tyres, finishing third at the final race of the season in Mickausen. Weidinger said, “I am delighted to win the title and I want to thank Avon Tyres and all who have been involved in the 2009 season. The tyres were brilliant and thank you for developing such great tyres for my race. It has been of great satisfaction to myself and my team.” Avon Tyres are the chosen racing tyre of 250 motorsport champions across Europe every year, in categories as diverse as the British GT Championship, FIA European Rallycross Championship, Formula Ford and historic racing.
The managing director of Northampton-based turbocharger specialist Turbo Technics has taken the overall championship title in this year's BARC SBD Speed Championship, as well as the class honours in the Richard Egger Insurance Hillclimb and Sprint Association 2009 Speed Championship. Geoff Kershaw formed Turbo Technics in 1981, and claimed the titles at the wheel of his famous twin turbocharged Ford Sierra in his first year back in competition after a three-year break. Kershaw began sprinting and hillclimbing in 1967 and has been a regular competitor ever since. He cites as his inspiration a fellow driver who continued to race well into his 80s. Kershaw, who is 65, has no intention of giving up in the foreseeable future.
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Those of you fortunate to have an example of the classic 1950s Mercedes 180 or 190 in SL or saloon guise tucked away in your garage now have a new tyre at hand for your baby. Hampshire based Vintage Tyre Supplies now stocks the new 640/700SR13 Vredestein Classic Tyre, a radial featuring a raised curbing rib and suitable for speeds of up to 113 mph (180kmph).
Avon Tyres has added the Italian GT Hillclimb title to its impressive array of European championships. Italian Ferrari 430 GT2 driver Denny Zardo, 32, clinched the title with a round still to go, by winning the GT class of last weekend’s round at Pedavena-Croce D’Aune. He was tenth overall, four seconds ahead of chief rival and fellow Ferrari driver, Leonardo Isolani.
Kidderminster-based aftermarket distributor Universal Automotive is continuing to grow its range of products under the VECO brand with the addition of an exhaust fittings line-up. The company says that it can now offer a comprehensive range of quality VECO replacement components covering all necessary fitments to give the garage service trade a complete exhaust ancillary product solution.
Viking International has added the new Platinum battery range, from UK Batteries, to the company’s product portfolio. The Platinum range includes Prestige and Prestige Plus. According to the company, the batteries are manufactured to OE specification and used by a number of leading manufacturers including Toyota, Volkswagen, Saab, Lexus, Honda and Ford.
The Prestige range is suitable for the majority of cars including older models dating back to the early nineties up to today’s modern engines and includes a three year guarantee. Prestige Plus is designed for modern and premium vehicles, especially for larger engines and those vehicles with higher electrical demands such as air conditioning and GPS.
Wolfgang Reitzle, CEO of industrial gas company Linde, was confirmed as the new chairman of Continental AG's supervisory board. "We are very pleased that we have been able to persuade Professor Reitzle to take on this challenging mandate," said Schaeffler owner Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler in a statement. Reitzle has been highly sought after by a number of major firms, including BMW, and served as an executive with Ford Motor Co. The move came after owner Schaeffler Group forced out the previous board chairman Rolf Koerfer, who will nonetheless remain on the board. Also stepping down is board member Michael Frenzel, CEO of travel company TUI.
Meanwhile, the Schaeffler Group recently appointed Dr. Peter Pleus (55) and Norbert Indlekofer (51) to the position of President of Schaeffler Group Automotive. They have been appointed successors to Dr. Elmar Degenhart (50), who was appointed Chairman of the Executive Board of Continental AG on 12 August 2009.
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