Pirelli presented its new 2017 tyre size at Monte Carlo during the Monaco grand prix. The supplier described the new tyre size as a significant technical change that also has an effect on the balance and aesthetics of the cars that will compete next year. 2017 will be the first season in Pirelli’s latest three-year agreement to supply Formula One.
Falken Motorsport has followed up its podium finish at the 2015 Nürburgring 24 Hours with a top 10 and a class victory. The brand’s long-running participation at the event continued at an arduous 2016 Nürburgring 24 Hours, with ninth overall for Falken’s own new Porsche 991 GT3 R, together with a class win and top 20 finish for the SP3T Subaru WRX STI.
Kumho has been appointed a key partner and official tyre supplier to Britain’s premier rallying series, the MSA British Rally Championship (BRC). Having developed new products for the 2016 season, Kumho joins rival tyre suppliers Michelin, Pirelli and Dmack in a four-way battle over seven gravel and tarmac rounds, encompassing the slippery asphalt of Ireland, the gravel of the Kielder forests and more surfaces.
Pirelli has announced its finalised line-up of tyres for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. In the Superbike class, all riders will use 17” Pirelli Diablo Superbike tyres, while the Supersport, Superstock 1000 Fim Cup, and European Junior Cup will ride on the treaded Diablo Supercorsa SC range.
Aston Martin Racing’s entries in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) have switched from Michelin to Dunlop tyres for the 2016 season. The team evaluated Dunlop’s motorsport tyres over the winter and, under a new technical partnership, the Dunlop rubber will now be supplied to the Aston Martin Racing Vantage GTE cars.
Hankook Tire has been appointed exclusive tyre partner to a newly-established touring car series in Germany. The three-year arrangement sees Hankook supplying tyres to all cars competing in the ADAC TCR Germany series; in 2016 the tyre of choice is the Hankook Ventus Race, which will take to the circuit in size 260/660 R 18.
The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has chosen Goodyear as the exclusive tyre partner for the FIA European Truck Racing Championship for the next three years. The partnership extends and expands Goodyear’s long involvement in the series for which it has been producing special developed truck racing tyres since 2004. The tyre manufacturer was rewarded for the proven performance of its tyres with the renewal of its contact, which makes Goodyear a partner of the newly formed ETRA Promotion GmbH (ETRA) – the series’ new promotor.
Dunlop has extended both its official tyre supply and title sponsorship of the MSA British Touring Car Championship, signing an agreement with promoter and rights holder, TOCA to continue the partnership until at least the end of 2021. This contract will extend both the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship title sponsorship, which began in 2005, and the Official tyre supplier partnership, which began in 2003, into a third decade.
The FIA World Motor Sport Council has formally approved new 2016 tyre regulations for Formula One, including an extended slick range and the availability of three compounds per race weekend, at its meeting in Paris. Exclusive tyre supplier Pirelli will introduce a new slick compound, the P Zero Purple ultrasoft, which was tested in Abu Dhabi following the conclusion of the 2015 season. It takes its place as the softest compound, with the existing designations retained. Rules regarding intermediate and wet tyres remain unchanged.
Dunlop has signed a multi-year agreement to support the new Britcar Endurance package, comprising the Dunlop Endurance Championship and Dunlop Production Championship. Now under new management, the championships will be supported by Dunlop brand and marketing initiatives in addition to running on Dunlop Motorsport tyres. The new management arrangement, in the form of Hedley Cowell […]
Pirelli will supply the tyres to all five manufacturers aiming to become the first ever winner of the FIA GT World Cup. Taking place on 22 November next weekend through the streets of Macau, the inaugural FIA GT World Cup has attracted a 24-car line-up of GT3 machines. The showdown will take place with a 12-lap qualification race on Saturday November 21 and then the World Cup will be decided with an 18-lap (91.8-kilometre) race around the famous Guia Circuit in Macau the next day.
The organiser of the Mini Challenge championship, Total Track has announced a new multi-year deal to make Dunlop its sole tyre partner from 2016. The single make championship has run since 2002 with a remit for competitive, fair and cost-effective racing.
Pirelli has renewed its exclusive contract with the national Formula 4 and GT championships in Italy. Both championships will continue to use only Pirelli tyres throughout the 2016 and 2017 seasons, at a variety of circuits all over Italy. In order to keep the championship simple and cost effective, making driving talent the key factor, Pirelli will supply only two types of tyre for all races: 13” P Zero DM slicks and Cinturato WM wets.
Michelin says it will continue as sole tyre supplier to the FIA Formula E Championship for an additional three seasons. The World Motor Sport Council confirmed Michelin supply for season 3 (2016-2017), 4 (2017-2018) and 5 (2018-2019), subject to the finalisation of the corresponding agreements. The tyre maker has served as a technical partner to Formula E since the championship’s creation.
The Porsche Team followed up Le Mans 24 Hours victory with a one-two finish at the 2015 6 Hours of Nürburgring. While the N°17 Porsche 919 Hybrid was driven to victory by Timo Bernhard, Marc Webber, Brendon Hartley, their N°18 teammates overcame three Stop & Go penalties (of five, 30 and 60 seconds), for excessive fuel consumption, to steal second place from Audi Sport thanks, in part, to the tyre strategy that was adopted for Switzerland’s Neel Jani on Lap 143. Michelin supplied a total of 2,400 tyres to its 23 partners at the event, with bespoke products designed to suit the particular needs of Audi Sport, Porsche Motorsport and Toyota Racing teams’ vehicles.
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