Pirelli has released the first details of its Formula One tyre line-up for 2014 ahead of the first winter test in Jerez. The supplier will bring new tyres designed to operate with the wide range of regulations brought in for the 2014 season, which Pirelli describes as a “technical revolution”. Headlined by the presence of […]
The FIA and Pirelli have renewed their Formula One tyre supply contract, confirming the Italian tyre manufacturer’s presence in the series for the next three seasons. The decision ends speculation about the immediate future of the tyre supplier in F1, and will provide some stability during a transition period for F1’s rules and regulations. However, Pirelli has also announced the decision to introduce two new mandatory rules, designed in conjunction with the FIA and F1 teams to prevent the recurrence of the tyre safety issues most prevalent at Silverstone’s British grand prix in 2013.
Exclusive tyre supplier to Formula One, Pirelli has issued a response to a deleted tweet by the Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg following a high-speed tyre failure in Bahrain. The manufacturer explained that there were “a number of prototypes, which were completely innovative in terms of structure and compounds” as part of its development plans for the 2014 tyre range.
Dmack is to augment its continued role as authorised tyre supplier to the FIA World Rally Championship with a two car team in the WRC2 series. The British brand, manufactured in China by Shandong Yongtai, has announced the signing of Estonia’s Ott Tänak, who will join Finn Jari Ketomaa in a pair of Ford Fiesta R5 rally cars as the newly-formed Drive Dmack world rally team starts its campaign. Dmack has also announced a new range of rally tyres, as well as an extension of 60 sizes to its PCR range, coming in 2014.
With the sport still growing in the UK and trying to attract new talent, the attractiveness of the series to tyre suppliers is equally important. Title sponsor of the British Drift Championship and supplier to one of its major teams Japspeeed, Maxxis explains how it is helping the sport to thrive and grow as part of the UK motorsport calendar.
Following high profile controversies in major 2013 series, are the pressures placed on premium brand tyre manufacturers becoming too much to handle? Or are the pressures and the expensive compromises more than justified by the marketing and branding gains yielded from being the exclusive supplier of globally recognised motorsport?
Premium brand tyre manufacturers have emphasised youth development as a keystone of their activities practically since John Boyd Dunlop’s famous fitment to his son’s tricycle, and Sumitomo’s Falken brand has focused its engagement with grassroots sport in this way during 2013. First it introduced a sponsorship and support scheme that enabled young drivers access to subsidised and free tyres in the Association of North Western Car Clubs (ANWCC) K11 Micra Challenge and the Under 17 Motor AutoSOLO Championship for standard cars. It followed that with support for 11-year old Catherine Harris in National Ministox. The championships used the ZIEX ZE912 while the younger sister of 2013 F1 stock car world champion Tom Harris used both the ZIEX ZE912 and Sincera tyres on her Mini.
Dunlop’s motorsport heritage dates back as long as the brand itself, but even with such a history it is fair to say that its 125th year represented a strong showing. The manufacturer says entering races with open tyre supply is an important part of its drive to innovate and develop, although it continues to provide control tyres to a number of championships too. Dunlop emphasises particularly its endurance victories, which this year have included the Nürburgring 24H, VLN 6hrs, Le Mans 24h LMP2 and FIA World Endurance Championship and European Le Mans Series race victories too. Dunlop says it uses these championships to develop new technologies and concepts that then cascade into their standard motorsport tyre range and ultra high performance road car tyre range.
Cooper’s Avon brand celebrated 30 years of motorsport by adding a number of new championships to its portfolio, including the Time Attack Series, to which Avon became an official tyre supplier at the start of the year and the F1 Era Superbike Championship – a new series for 2013. Meanwhile, Cooper Tires became a principal partner to the burgeoning FIA European Rallycross Championship and sponsor to rising star Timmy Hansen in his maiden season. Both brands were once again the title sponsors of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship and the Cooper Tires British Formula 3 Series.
The organiser of the Australian V8 Touring Car Series has confirmed Kumho Tyres Australia will continue as control tyre supplier until at least 2016. The supply agreement’s renewal continues an arrangement that began in 2008; as before, during the next three seasons Kumho will provide on-track support to competitors during all rounds.
The Formula 1 Era Superbike champion has been crowned, and Stephen McKeown was helped to his title by Avon Tyres, the sponsor of the series. McKeown took the Irish and Ulster Championships of the series on his Aprilia RSV1000 Mille, with eight wins and two second places during the season. This marks the first time a major international series has been won on Avon tyres since the 1990s.
Cooper Tire has replaced Firestone as the official tyre supplier to the US-based Indy Lights Series from 2014, making Cooper the official tyre of the entire Mazda Road to Indy ladder. The agreement will initially run for five years, with an option to extend beyond the end of the 2018 season.
Dunlop has confirmed its reappointment as official tyre supplier by the MSA British Touring Car Championship. This extends the sole-supplier partnership that began in 2003, and continues a relationship between Dunlop and the BTCC that can be traced back to the championship’s creation in 1958.
Pirelli’s tyre supply contract for the GP2 and GP3 series has been renewed. The Italian firm has supplied the GP3 series since its inception in 2010 and took on GP2 supply the following year. Comments made by the organiser upon announcing this multi-year renewal for the two Formula One feeder categories – that his philosophy has always been to use the same tyre supplier as F1 – also indicates an official deal for the top-level championship may be imminent.
Michelin’s confirmed interest in the Formula One tyre supply deal may have caused a stir, but it appears the French brand’s approach remains limited to detailing its desire for regulation changes to governing body, the FIA. F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed that the sport’s teams currently have a deal with Pirelli, and Lotus team principal Eric Boullier has suggested that fewer changes at this stage would be welcome, considering the regulation changes already due to take place this winter.
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