As reported yesterday, from 2020/21 Goodyear will act as sole tyre supplier to the LMP2 category of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and European Le Mans Series (ELMS). We expected Michelin to be disappointed by this move away from open tyre supply, however, what came as news is that the tyre maker wasn’t even considered for the role of next season’s LMP2 supplier.
Goodyear is to serve as official tyre supplier to the LMP2 category of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and European Le Mans Series (ELMS). This arrangement follows the decision made by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) to appoint a single tyre supplier for the Le Mans Prototype class.
US-based two-wheel race team FactoryONE Sherco has chosen to partner with Kenda Powersports in a multi-year agreement that starts in the 2020 season. Under this agreement, Kenda becomes the official tyre company for the FactoryONE Sherco team and will provide team riders with tyres to compete in AMA Endurocross, Hard Enduro, GNCC, NEPG and more.
Hankook has extended its partnership with European touring cars, with another partnership with a promising new racing series. The new DTM Trophy will run on the Ventus Race tyre, with on-site support from the tyre manufacturer from the 2020 season. Hankook has signed a four-year contract with DTM umbrella organisation ITR, which will promote the new GT series. The new series will run as part of the support programme at seven rounds of the popular DTM series, which Hankook has supported as exclusive tyre partner since 2011.
Testing for the Extreme E off-road electric racing series began earlier this month at the Château de Lastours off-road proving grounds in the south of France. One question the tested aimed to answer during proceedings was how well the car and tyres work together. They also looked into any potential weaknesses in the electric race car’s physical and technical design, not least in its motor. The tests lasted several days and were run by Continental, tyre supplier to Extreme E, and Spark Racing Technology.
Hankook will continue as the exclusive supplier of DTM for the next four years, having signed an early extension to its partnership contract with DTM marketer ITR. The tyre maker has been involved in one of the most popular international touring car series as official partner and exclusive tyre supplier since 2011. The new contract means Hankook will become the longest-standing tyre supplier in the history of the international racing series.
Cooper has become the official tyre supplier to the French Rallycross Championship, a nine-round series, including traditional rallycross venues such as Dreux, Essay-Ducs, Lessay and Kerlabo. Cooper branding will be displayed prominently on cars, trackside and around the paddock.
Pirelli will remain global tyre partner of the FIA Formula One World Championship until the end of the 2023 season after extending its current contract – which lasts until the end of the 2019 season – for a further four years. Pirelli notes that the agreement to extend the partnership was “completed in a short timeframe” on the back of the “successful partnership over recent years.”
Yokohama Rubber is to supply Yokohama Advan racing tyres to the 65th Macau Grand Prix, which takes place in the administrative region between 15 and 18 November. This is the 35th occasion that Yokohama has served as tyre supplier – it supplied tyres to this event for 33 consecutive years until 2015 and, after Pirelli’s tyre supply in 2016, resumed support last year. Yokohama Advan tyres will be the control tyre for the event’s main race, the FIA F3 World Cup, and for the concurrently held FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) race. In addition, they will be the tyre of choice for cars competing in the event’s other races.
The FIA is currently seeking tenders for tyre supply to the Formula One World Championship between 2020 and 2023. As expected, talk in motorsport circles has returned to the possibility of Michelin throwing its hat into the ring. The French tyre maker is open to the prospect of acting as sole tyre supplier, as requested by the FIA tender, provided that “a technical challenge was involved.” Yet other FIA conditions continue to place stumbling blocks in the way of a Michelin return.
The opening round of the new Formula 3 Asian Championship took place on the weekend of 14-15 July, and all vehicles lined up on the grid at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit were shot with GitiCompete GTR1 tyres. Giti Tire is on board as exclusive tyre supplier to the series.
Yokohama has become the Official Tyre Partner for the Silverstone Classic festival for the first time in its 100-year history in an association the tyre manufacturer says reflects its rich motorsport heritage. In its new role, Yokohama becomes the title sponsor for several highlights, including the Yokohama Trophy for FIA Masters Historic Sports Cars and the Yokohama Silverstone Classic Supercar Track Parade and Paddock Display. The company will present the Yokohama Silverstone Classic Club Car of the Show Award.
Giti Tire has become the Official Tyre Partner of the F3 Asian Championship, a new five-round, 15-race series Certified by the FIA. At each event the tyre manufacturer will provide all teams with two sets of GitiCompete GTR1 tyres, part of the company’s comprehensive range of competition racing tyres which are used in events around the world.
Avon Tyres has been named the official tyre supplier to the newly launched Series Elite, unveiled this week. Series Elite is a new one-make racing series that has been designed to allow amateur and more experienced drivers to compete on a level playing field.
Giti Tire has extended its Official Tyre Partnership with the VW Fun Cup into a third season. The tyre manufacturer’s fully livered GT Radial racing car will also make its European debut when the series travels to Circuit Zandvoort in Holland, marking the first time the company has both supplied tyres and raced a car from the series outside the UK. The calendar also features three and four-hour races at Oulton Park, Anglesey, Snetterton, Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Donnington Park, in a series totalling nine rounds.
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