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.
The relationship between Pirelli and the Formula One teams has by no means been smooth sailing since the Italian manufacturer began as exclusive tyre supplier in 2011, yet F1 team bosses don’t appear keen to try their luck with a new partner. Money, as you might have guessed, plays an important role in this loyalty to Pirelli.
Pirelli will continue as the event main sponsor at the next round of the ENI FIM Superbike World Championship in Malaysia. Taking place at Sepang International Circuit on 2 August, the event is known as the Pirelli Malaysian Round. Pirelli has identified Malaysia – as well as Qatar – as World Superbike Championship events with particular marketing value, increasing its visibility in growing, high performance markets.
Dmack will introduce a new soft compound version of its DMG+2 rally tyre in Finland, while the tyre supplier will also enter last year’s Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy winner as a new team – Drive Dmack 2. With the tyre brand’s lead driver, Jari Ketomaa, forced onto the sidelines for his home rally on medical advice, Dmack completes its changes with a new driver; Ketomaa’s fellow Finn, Jarkko Nikara steps in to take his place on the Neste Oil Rally Finland.
Following up its third place finish in the Nürburgring 24 Hours, Falken Motorsports has secured a second endurance racing podium. Peter Dumbreck and Alexandre Imperatori defied temperatures well above 35°C to finish second at the fourth round of the VLN series during the weekend’s action (4-5 July) on the Nordschleife.
Dunlop’s motorsport reputation continues to be tied to the Isle of Man TT. The tyre brand supplied three winners, with a further seven podium places claimed on Dunlop rubber in 2015 – it is the most successful tyre manufacturer in the history of the races.
Goodyear will not make a Formula One comeback in 2017, while Dunlop has reaffirmed its commitment to endurance and touring car racing. The manufacturer’s statements come on the 17 June tender deadline, following Michelin Motorsport director Pascal Couasnon’s confirmation that the French manufacturer had submitted an official application.
It appears that Michelin has thrown its hat back into the Formula 1 ring. Michelin Motorsport has retweeted comments its director made to Motorsport.com confirming its submission of a F1 tyre supply bid ahead of the 17 June tender deadline. Pascal Couasnon shared that Michelin decided to enter the running in the hope that the championship would take a new direction in regards to tyres.
Falken Tyres achieved its aim of a first podium at the Nuerburgring 24 Hours. The team of Peter Dumbreck, Martin Ragginger, Alex Imperatori and Wolf Henzler guided Falken’s Porsche 997 GT3 R from 19th on the grid to a podium slot, improving on its fourth place finish in 2014. The team’s number 44 Porsche – the only car on the grid to use Falken tyres – rose gradually through the field overnight, dealing well with typically varied Eifel region weather. Tyres & Accessories, visiting the event, enquires how the Sumitomo Rubber Industries brand’s European operation benefits from its relationship with the Nuerburgring and its flagship endurance race.
The Clarkson, Hammond & May Live tour will feature Yokohama as its Official Tyre Supplier. A renegotiated deal was struck to allow the motoring presenter trio to fulfil its live commitments despite Jeremy Clarkson’s infamous removal from the flagship BBC show. The result of the renegotiation was the removal of Top Gear branding and pre-existing material filmed alongside the presenters’ work on the TV show. The Japanese tyre manufacturer told Tyrepress that it has agreed to maintain its tyre supply deal for the three remaining weekends, with Yokohama branding and promotional materials to appear in and around the arenas in Belfast, Sheffield and London.
Nürgburgring-based VLN Championship front runner Twin Busch will be fitted with Kumho tyres when the privateer starts the 24 hour race this weekend. The squad’s history in the race includes a tenth place finish overall behind nine works outfits last year. Kumho wants to help the team to eclipse that result on 16-17 May.
Dunlop has announced its entry into an agreement with the Red Bull sponsored FMX4Ever freestyle motocross team. The tyre maker describes the new deal as an ‘endorsement’ and says the arrangement includes the supply of off-road motorcycle tyres this year. It adds that both Dunlop and FMX4Ever view the endorsement as a “first step in a strategic partnership which they aim to build on towards the future.”
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