MOTORSPORT
It would be something of an understatement to say that high raw material costs, the weak dollar and unprecedented competition from the Far East is affecting UK alloy wheel manufacturing. But, in the cases of the selection of companies that Tyres & Accessories spoke to, it is more a question of ingenuity triumphing over adversity. So, in the face of such pressing circumstances, how are UK manufacturers holding firm? Work smarter, not necessarily harder, they say.
(Akron/Tire Review) Kumho Tire USA has expanded its 2005 motorsport efforts, making its first appearance in professional drifting competition. Florida-based Enjuku Racing will compete on Kumho Ecsta MX tyres in Formula Drift, World Drift Challenge and D1 Grand Prix events. The team made its debut at a Formula Drift event in New Jersey on 16 April.
Williams and Michelin are working to “exploit” their advantage having experienced “minimal” tyre wear in the opening three races of the season, reports Planet F1.
The team spent three days testing at Barcelona where they covered a total of 533 laps. “We worked through a comprehensive test on tyre compounds, aerodynamic parts, traction control and general set-up,” technical director Sam Michael said. “The tyre wear that we have is far from the limit, as it has been in the first three races with the FW27, and we are working with Michelin to exploit this further.”
(Akron/Tire Review) Associated Press has reported that nine Formula One teams and five F1 car manufacturers will boycott a meeting this week with the FIA in another move interpreted as increasing their bid for a new grand prix series.
FIA’s meeting on 15 April was reportedly called to discuss 2008 race season regulations. The only race team and constructor committed to attending the meeting is Ferrari, which signed a multi-year deal to remain in F1.
Avon Tyres Racing and the Ford Racing Formula Ford Australian championship will continue their association due to the recent selection of the Avon ACB10 Semi Slick as ‘control tyre’ for a further six years. Completion of the agreement in 2010 will make Avon’s 15-year control tyre selection the longest such arrangement in the world, says the manufacturer.
Commenting on Avon’s involvement in the Australian Formula Ford championship, Julian Baldwin, Avon Tyres’ director of marketing and motorsport, said: “As part of Avon’s worldwide support of the Formula Ford class we are very happy to be associated, once again and on a continuing basis, with the Formula Ford Australian championship.”
The FIA World Motor Sport Council has released an official statement confirming that there will be no rule changes in Formula 1 until 2008, according to Adrivo Sportpresse.
A control tyre will not be introduced in F1 before the end of 2007 stated the press release.
Bridgestone received the news well, commenting that the absence of a control tyre keeps healthy competition thriving between the tyre manufacturers.
Bridgestone has taken the blame for Ferrari’s poor start to the Formula 1 season. Bridgestone Motorsport’s technical director Hirohide Hamashima told the daily Gazzetta dello Sport on Tuesday that there was no doubt tyres were to blame. “Even if the entire package is important, in this race the responsibility for such a negative result is undoubtedly down to our tyres,” said Mr Hamashima.
Seven teams in Formula 1 use Michelin tyres, including Renault who have won both races so far this season. “The fact that (Fernando) Alonso and (Jarno) Trulli lapped a couple of seconds faster than us is certainly not explainable by different fuel loads. Obviously we have had long discussions with Ferrari to create tyres of a new generation and we are counting on having found some that will allow us quickly to be competitive again,” said the Bridgestone chief.
Pascal Vasselon, former motorsports project manager at Michelin, will soon make a return to the pitlane, this time in a Toyota uniform. According to reports the Frenchman will take up a position in Cologne’s R&D department prior to the San Marino grand prix late next month. Asked what Mr Vasselon’s next move might be, motorsport director Pierre Dupasquier said in Melbourne: “It’s up to him. He loves Formula One.”
As part of a long-standing relationship with the maker of some of Britain’s best loved sports cars, Avon Tyre Racing has developed special ultra-high performance road and race tyres for the 155 mph Caterham Seven CSR.
Bridgestone recently took over as the sole tyre supplier of the GP2 motorsport series. Already a supplier to Formula 1, the Japanese company has decided to become the sole supplier of GP2 which has replace F3000 as the primary support series for F1. Previously Cooper’s Avon brand was the GP2 series supplier.
Michelin supplied teams took all but one of the top eight places at Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix. The opening race of the season saw Giancarlo Fisichella’s Renault win at the chequered flag, followed by Rubens Barichello’s Bridgestone equipped Ferrari. Fisichella’s teammate, Fernando Alonso took the final podium position. In a further development, the Red Bull team’s drivers (David Coulthard and Christian Klein) took fourth and seventh place respectively.
During the official press conference that followed the race, racewinner Giancarlo Fisichella told journalists: “Honestly because of the first part of the race I was a bit conservative on the tyres. I never pushed to the limit, only at the end when Rubens was catching me.”
“It’s going to be a lot closer this year, but I do feel we’re going to be in with a shout all year,” Renault’s technical boss Pat Symonds also commented.
Hankook Tire America Corp has signed a three-year agreement making Hankook the official sponsor of the Hankook US Touring Car Championship (USTCC) race series until the end of 2007. According to a Tire Review report, under the agreement, Hankook’s Ventus RSS Z211 R-Compound racing tyres will be the control tyres for the 2005-series racing event. In addition, the tyre company’s logo will be prominently displayed at each racing venue and on competitors’ vehicles.
“Hankook is dedicated to expanding our motorsports activities, both as a demonstration of our technology, as well as our brand-building marketing campaign,” said Choi. “We look forward to a productive relationship with the USTCC — and to excellent competition over the next three years,” commented J W Choi, president and CEO of Hankook.
Pirelli have appointed Elite Garages as their recommended Motorsport Tyre specialist for the Pirelli PZero Corsa road/track tyre.
The Pirelli Corsa is described as the ultimate extreme performance tyre. It has been designed for enthusiasts who take their road car on the race track whether for a track day or for club racing allowing them to maximise their cars’ performance, without the need to change wheels or tyres when moving from road to track.
The Pzero Corsa is the successor to the renowned PZero C tyre and has a directional and asymmetrical tread pattern. The tyre will be available in nine sizes for 17 and 18 inch rims and carries a Y speed rating. Being a street legal ECE homologated racing tyre, the Corsa offers a level of performance not seen in standard road tyres, claims Pirelli.
Team d’Antin MotoGP has announced that it will use Dunlop tyres in 2005. The team will enter Roby Rolfo on a Ducati Desmosedici GP04. The 2005 MotoGP World Championship starts in Jerez on 10 April.
Team owner Luis d’Antin and Roby Rolfo recently visited Dunlop Motorsport’s European R&D headquarters in Birmingham. “We are delighted that Dunlop has decided to support our programme,” confirmed Luis d’Antin “it will be a very interesting challenge for our team to help Dunlop move forward with their MotoGP tyre development.”
Formula 1 supplier, Bridgestone, has denied speculation of a major problem with excessive tyre wear. The denial follows last week’s Valencia testing session where Ferrari lingered in the midfield while Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello reportedly complained about a lack of durability. “We got the data we wanted to get,” technical manager Hisao Suganuma told Autosport. The Japanese team then went on to deny that the Valencia specification even nearly resembles the tyre the team will use for qualifying and the Australian Grand Prix. “We are happy with the (pre-season) data we have so far,” he added.
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