Kumho will be the sole supplier to the new Formula 3 Euro Series, supplying its ECSTA Formula 3 slicks and wet weather tyres to all teams. The series comprises ten races between April and October next year and the races take place in five different countries (Germany, Italy, France, Austria and The Netherlands).
It has been decided by Formula 1’s governing bodies that any technical changes will be delayed until the 2005 season. One of the expected changes is the re-introduction of slick tyres, but this has been opposed by Rory Byrne, Chief Designer for Ferrari. He believes that driving on slicks with today’s faster lap times would increase the danger for the drivers.
The Arrows F1 racing team has been excluded from next year’s series of races, following a season during which the team did not appear in five races and also suffered financial difficulties. F1 is facing falling TV audiences and there are moves afoot to change the technical regulations in order to make the races more interesting.
Formula One’s Technical Working Group is said to be considering allowing slick tyres to make a comeback in the race series. Grooved tyres were introduced in an attempt to slow cars down, but lap records continue to be broken and, it is argued, the net effect was to make overtaking harder, as drivers felt they had less stability and grip. Formula One has seen a fall in TV viewing figures and the Technical Working Group is exploring ways of making the races more exciting.
Press reports at the weekend suggest that Formula 1 team McLaren wants to pool R&D information on tyres with rival team Williams. Both teams run on Michelin tyres and McLaren MD Martin Whitmarsh believes that sharing information will serve both teams’ common interest in getting closer to Ferrari.
In an interview with T&A, C-Tyres Managing Director, Gary Oliver, highlighted the future for the Colway brand. The premium quality Formula Colway Tyre is planned to constitute 100% of company output by 2005. This is seen as a recognition that retread tyres can no longer compete as budget options, so have to be sold on quality and value.
C-Tyres, the company formed after the management buy-out at retreaders Colway and Motorway, has started production. The first heavy truck tyre – a 385/65 22-5 – has just rolled off the production line. Branded ‘Formula Colway’, the new range consists of premium truck tyre retreads, says C-Tyres MD Gary Oliver.
Of course, most media interest in respect of tyres in motor sports nowadays is in Formula 1. In this top discipline Bridgestone and Michelin are the rivals, even the phrase “war of tyres” has been coined. But there are also World Championships in Motor Cycle Sports, national competitions with an exclusive tyre supplier or different tyre manufacturers take place. Sometimes the engagement in motor sports may lead to technical progress for tyres, but in the first line it is an instrument of marketing.
The Prost Formula 1 racing team has now signed a three-year deal with Michelin to supply tyres, beginning with the 2001 season. Prost has not yet chosen its second driver to team up with Jean Alesi.
This is the time of the year when tyre manufacturers proudly present their latest products to the press and to dealers. Bridgestone/Firestone is no exception, launching its newest flagship tyre, the Potenza S-03 Pole Position. As the name suggests, the new tyre incorporates technology and design features based on the company’s Formula 1 experience. A high performance tyre, the Potenza S-03 Pole Position will be available in 51 sizes, speed rated W and Y, and for rims from 15″ to 20″. Aspect ratios range from 55 series down to a very low 30 series. The tyre has no OE homologations, neither are there plans to seek any – this follows the strategy used for the successful S-02, which the S-03 replaces. At the European launch of the tyre, Bridgestone/Firestone Europe referred to Formula 1, saying that the company welcomed the challenge from Michelin this season and pointing out that, in the first race of the new season, Bridgestone-shod cars filled the first seven places.
Formula 1 Champion Michael Schumacher believes that the secret of the Williams-BMW team lies in the Michelin tyres. Michelin seems to have done a good job so that Williams-BMW has become competitive, the Ferrari driver told La Gazzetta dello Sport, during team testing in Mugello. “I would have thought that Bridgestone’s advantage would have lasted longer”, said the German, who has Bridgestone tyres on his Ferrari, whereas brother Ralf uses Michelin tyres on the Williams-BMW.
At a press conference, Formula one boss Bernie Ecclestone confirmed that Moscow will host a Formula One Grand Prix event, probably in 2003. A new circuit is being built on a site south of the city, at an estimated cost of 112.7 m Euro. No new race will be added to the F1 calendar, so Moscow will replace an existing event. Both Italy and Germany currently stage two races, so one of these is favourite to be dropped, although a possible ban on tobacco advertising at the race in Belgium may make that event unattractive to sponsors, and thus vulnerable.
Speaking just before the French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours, Bridgestone President Shigeo Watanabe said that the company would remain a tyre supplier to Formula 1 “indefinitely”. He added: “Being in F1 has boosted our corporate image generally and has put us at the forefront of tyre technology in the eyes of the world. Our brand awareness has dramatically increased all over the world.” Watanabe said that the future would see more car manufacturers involved in the sport and he believes the number of tyre manufacturers will increase also.
McLaren International and Michelin today announced that they have entered into a long term agreement for the supply of tyres to the ‘West McLaren Mercedes’ Formula One racing team with effect from 2002. In 1984 this successful pairing claimed 17 race wins and both the constructors and drivers world championship.
The “Essen-Motor-Show” is putting its foot down! After the record exhibition in 2000 (with 394,800 guests, 12.4 percent more visitors), it has been accelerating once again: the range on offer, which already covered many diverse aspects of automobiles and related products, became even wider in 2001. A total of more than 550 exhibitors, including the leading automobile manufacturers, presented what was on offer on the global market in 18 exhibition halls. Special emphasis was placed on the sporty and individual vehicle models as well as on the wide range of vehicle accessories. Current racing vehicles from all motor-sport categories, including a large number of this season’s Formula-1 cars, supplemented the range on show, where all the major players, almost without exception, were represented. Many exhibitors had booked larger booth areas. Other automobile manufacturers who had not exhibited their makes before had announced their participation in the “Number 2” of all German vehicle fairs. Because of the greater demand for exhibition space, the exhibition management had therefore decided to provide an additional large hall for the “Automobiles” and “Tuning” exhibition sections. VDAT – Verband Deutscher Automobil-Tuner e.V. (the “Association of German Automobile Tuners”) had also intensified its involvement in the Essen-Motor-Show 2001. VDAT members presented themselves exclusively in the VDAT Halls 5, 10 and 11 which were designed with a salon character.
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