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Firestone Sole Tyre Supplier for Combined IndyCar Series

In Europe Formula 1 is considered the leading motor sport, but in the US IndyCar is king, but for the past 12 years this single-seater championship has faced rivalry from Champ Car. Now, however, the two championships are combining under the IndyCar Series banner – and Firestone has been selected as the sole tyre supplier to the series.

Bridgestone and Firestone have supplied both championships for the past 12 years and, for the previous few seasons, been sole official supplier to both. As official tyre supply brand, Firestone will act as title sponsor for the Firestone Indy Lights series, while still, says Bridgestone, benefiting from the tyre major’s racing work over the past five years.

31st March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Kumho Continues as Zandvoort Masters of Formula 3 Sponsor

During the weekend of 8 -10 August, top Formula 3 drivers will once again race on Kumho tyres at Zolder, following tyre supplier Kumho’s decision to commit to the event as title sponsor. The “Zandvoort Masters of Formula 3” is Europe’s only race featuring the best Formula 3 drivers from the various championships.

“Of course, this is still a temporary solution, because Zandvoort is the natural homebase for the Masters, like the name already indicates”, says Erik Weijers, C.O.O. of Circuit Park Zandvoort. “The idea of the Masters was born at Zandvoort and the event has built up its strong history here from the very first edition in 1991 onwards. Because of the limited number of so-called ‘noise days’ that we have at Zandvoort, we have to escape to Zolder. Of course, the facilities and the support we are getting there is excellent. Zolder surely is the best possible alternative in that respect.”

18th March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Glow In The Dark F1 Tyres?

An item on the PaddockTalk website suggests that the latest thing in Formula 1 could be glow-in-the-dark tyres. Bridgestone is said to be looking into the possibility of coating the sidewalls and grooves with special, fluorescent paint.

17th March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Motorsport Announces F1 Tyre Specifications

Bridgestone, the official tyre supplier to the FIA Formula One World Championship, has announced the compound allocations for the Potenza tyres to be used in the first nine rounds of the 2008 season. The tyres for 2008 feature minor changes from those of last season, changes Bridgestone says were made in the interests of safety. The allocations for the first nine races of the current season are the same as used in the respective events in 2007 aside from the Bahrain Grand Prix, which will now use the medium and soft compounds, as opposed to the hard and medium compounds in 2007.

3rd March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

F1 Slicks Not a Certainty

Despite the anticipation from some quarters for the return of slick tyres to Formula One in 2009, FIA president Max Mosley has warned that their reintroduction is by no means certain. The grooved tyres currently in use are scheduled to be scrapped after 2008, but Mosley has told Autosport magazine that if new bodywork rules, intended to reduce aerodynamic downforce by up to 50 per cent, to not sufficiently reduce cornering speeds, the return to slicks may yet again be postponed.

14th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Maxxis Success in 2007 Formula Drift Series

Maxxis once again proved to be the choice of champions when sponsored driver Chris Forsberg put in a strong second place finish at the final event of the 2007 Formula Drift series – in Irwindale, California on October 13 – to clinch second place overall. Twenty-four year old Forsberg, who used Maxxis MA-Z1 Drift tyres throughout the season, headed the field at events in Atlanta, Georgia and Sonoma, California, and consistently finished in the top 16.

“We’re super-excited to be second in the series. We were hoping to be in the top three. The final round had a lot of tough match-ups. It was a very exciting event overall,” he said. As always, Forsberg was full of praise his MA-Z1 Drifts, adding: “The tyres performed perfect. They had a lot of grip in the back and down by the wall, which is a critical point; we try to run close to the wall without crashing.

23rd November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Ferrari Blame Email for Tyre Embarrassment

Only a matter of weeks after the FIA released e-mails supposedly proving alleged inter-team espionage was taking place in Formula One, once again the humble email is at the centre of Formula One controversy. This time it was Ferrari blaming a late email for an embarrassing tyre error this year’s rained-out Japanese Grand Prix.

According to Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari had not been told they had to start on extreme wet tyres. As a result both he and Felipe Massa were obliged to enter the pits after the race had got underway. “After the race I heard there were some rules to force everyone to start on full wets but the FIA (International Automobile Federation) or race control forgot to tell our team,” Raikkonen told the post-race news conference.

A team spokesman told Reuters they received an e-mail after the start of the race that they had to use extreme wets and were then told by radio that both drivers had to pit or be disqualified.

1st October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Maxxis Supermaxx in Silverstone Group Test

The popular Maxxis Supermaxx, a ZR rated Sports/Touring motorcycle tyre, now in its third generation, has demonstrated its credentials in a group test at Silverstone. An instructor from California Superbike School put the Supermaxx through its paces using a race specification Suzuki GSXR1000 (2007 model). In good weather conditions he completed 100 miles at race speeds on the Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit.

“Silverstone is a fast, flat racetrack where cornering speeds can reach up to 140mph and 170mph-180mph is the norm on the quickest straights,” said Maxxis International UK managing director Derek McMartin.

12th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

New marketing director at Bridgestone UK

Bridgestone UK has made a new addition to its Warwick-based team after appointing Sam Enya as marketing director. Mr. Enya, 39, has been with Bridgestone since 1993, when he joined the company’s head office in Japan straight from college.

After spending 12 years working for the tyre major in its home country, progressing into a role looking after sales for the motorsport and aircraft tyre divisions, Enya transferred to the UK. Most recently, he has worked as a manager at Bridgestone Motorsport in Slough, handling the Formula One operation, but has now moved to Bridgestone UK’s Tachbrook Park head office to oversee the firm’s marketing strategy.

“Having worked for Bridgestone for 14 years, I’m looking forward to a new challenge within the company,” he said. “My aim is to ensure that Bridgestone continues to strengthen its position within the UK market.”

21st August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

F1 Tyre Rule Change for 2008 Rumoured

A German motor racing magazine has disclosed that Formula One decision makers may be in favour of modifying the championship’s tyre regulations for the 2008 season. Auto Motor und Sport magazine reported on July 30 that Bridgestone could be asked to offer a wider selection of tyre compounds at each grand prix – a move intended to increase the strategy options available to participating teams.

The championship’s smaller teams are reportedly more strongly behind the idea, while the major players have given a lukewarm response to any such changes. Bridgestone too is said to be less than enthusiastic, as implementing the proposed changes for next year’s season would involve additional expense and preparatory work.

1st August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Pilot Sport OE for New BMW M3

BMW has chosen Michelin’s Pilot Sport tyre for OE fitment to its new M3 Coupe. The fourth generation M3 features a 414bhp V-8 engine and is promoted by BMW M GmbH as a “racecar tyre suitable for daily use.” Therefore Michelin sees the selection of the its ultimate sports tyre, developed in conjunction with engineers from BMW M, as a “logical choice.”

“To ensure that its new coupe tightly grips the road, BMW M GmbH has selected a racing tyre made for the street – the latest-generation Michelin Pilot Sport, which delivers all the experience acquired by Michelin in highly demanding Formula 1 races,” stated Michelin. “Before withdrawing from the sport, Michelin equipped the cars that won both the Driver and the Constructors championships two years in a row.” Michelin tyres have equipped the BMW M3 since the release of the first generation model, and are also fitted to other cars produced by BMW M, including the M5 and M6.

5th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Early Reports in Error, Bridgestone Employee Injured

(Akron/Tire Review) Early reports about a fatal helicopter crash after last weekend’s Formula 1 race in France were apparently in error as the Bridgestone Corp. employee riding in the aircraft reportedly survived the crash. Three passengers did die in the helicopter crash, which occurred Saturday evening near the Magny Cours circuit. The Bridgestone employee was among two passengers who were injured.

In a statement issued by Bridgestone, which apparently also thought its employee had perished, said: “The Bridgestone employee and a relative survived the crash. Bridgestone wishes to express its sadness and concern at this difficult time.”

4th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

This Side of Eden

Cars on the equivalent real-life grid are capable of producing a staggering 4,000-plus BHP between them. Yet budding Jenson Buttons can experience all the thrills and spills of a competitive F1 race at the Eden Project this month (April), using only pedal power to fire them to victory!

An unusual attraction at the Bodelva attraction enables teams of two to go head-to-head on a demanding six-lane slot car circuit. One person pedals furiously on a specially-rigged exercise bike to provide power, while the other uses a controller to guide their car towards the chequered flag and hopefully a place on the podium.

12th April 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

White Grooves to Differentiate F1 Tyres

Bridgestone has confirmed it will use white markings to distinguish the softer compound tyre options used in the Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix. The marking, applied to the bottom of the tyres’ second inside groove, was one of a number of options tested during practice days in Sepang following complaints about the red dots used during the Australian Grand Prix.

3rd April 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

F1 Tyre Markings too Discrete

Bridgestone is facing pressure to make alterations to the markings used for identifying the soft compound tyres used during Formula One races. During the Australian Grand Prix Bridgestone chose to distinguish the tyres with a white circle, but many have complained that these markings were so small that they became difficult to spot when the F1 cars were actually moving.

Following the race Bridgestone agreed they would look at alternate forms of marking, but added that the tyres for the upcoming races in Malaysia and Bahrain had already been produced and therefore no changes could be made until the Spanish Grand Prix at the earliest.

22nd March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors