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Bridgestone’s F1 Fan Club

Bridgestone is expecting more than a thousand of its employees to turn out and cheer on the Bridgestone equipped cars of Ferrari, Sauber, Jordan and Minardi, when the race at Suzuka next weekend.

Bridgestone Motorsport director, Hiroshi Yasukawa said a home grand prix is a rare chance for Japan-based staff to catch a closer glimpse of Formula One. “We aim to give them a good show,” he told the Home of F1 website. “Suzuka is renowned for being tough on tyres,” said the team’s technical manager Hisao Suganuma, “[but] we know the circuit well.”

5th October 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Return of the Unipart Calender

Unipart Automotive has announced the launch of a new marketing programme, designed to reposition Unipart’s place as an aftermarket brand.

27th September 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Renault’s F1 Boss Questions Michelin

Renault’s Formula 1 team boss, Flavio Briatore has put pressure on his team’s tyre supplier, Michelin. In a statement the French car manufacturer said that in 2005 the team would have a competitive team of drivers and that the only question mark would be over the tyres. Mr Briatore said that he likes the Michelin guys, but they still lag behind their Bridgestone rivals and must work harder.

21st September 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Jaguar Pulls Out of F1

Jaguar is to pull out of Formula One at the end of 2004 and Ford’s engine maker Cosworth is also up for sale. F1 representatives believe this decision will have huge affects on the sport, which is under threat from carmakers seeking to establish a rival championship. The news certainly won’t be received well by Michelin, Jaguar’s F1 tyre supplier.

Joe Greenwell, chairman and CEO Jaguar and Land Rover said: Jaguar’s presence in Formula One has been a valuable marketing and brand awareness platform particularly outside our main markets of the US and the UK. However it was our collective view that it is time for Jaguar Cars to focus 100 per cent on our core business.”

It is thought that the company could no longer financially compete with rivals BMW and Mercedes, partners to Williams and McLaren. World champions Ferrari and new arrivals Toyota have estimated budgets in excess of $200 million a year. “It is so expensive to be successful in Formula One,” said Ford vice-president Richard Parry-Jones. “The money the sport generates is not distributed equitably to the various stakeholders,” he continued.

21st September 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyre Change F1 Safety Phase?

The Federation Internationale de L’Automobile (FIA) wants to reduce the risk of sudden tyre punctures, caused by post collision shrapnel, German media sources are reporting. When fragments of damaged Formula 1 car lie on the track they pose a significant threat to tyres. The suggestion is that after a crash the safety car will collect all the cars into a formation and then bring the drivers to a standstill on a safe part of the course. When the track has been cleaned the race will start again. During this time the teams have the opportunity to examine their tyre for any damage. Tyre changes will be permitted if teams can prove that they are damaged.

16th September 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Minardi Tyre Controversy

While Rubens Barrichello was gaining pole position in preparation for his first win of the season, the Minardi Formula 1 team found itself at the centre of controversy. According to the ‘Home of F1’ online news service, Michelin Motorsport director, Pierre Dupasquier, has accused Minardi of stealing the remains of Jenson Button’s burst Michelin tyre. Mr Dupasquier alleges that the tyre was taken off a truck when Zsolt Baumgartner’s crashed Minardi was returned to pit lane, at the Belgian Grand Prix two weeks ago. The Minardi team, who run on Bridgestone tyres, have vehemently denied the accusation.

13th September 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Kumho Tires Keen on Formula 1

Kumho Tire Corp has officially decided to take on the challenge of Formula 1, said company president, Sae-Chul Oh, during a Formula 3 Euro Series event.

9th September 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin go to Monza with Victory in Mind

Fresh from its recent success in the Belgian Grand Prix Michelin is preparing for this weekend’s Italian GP. With Formula One’s summer testing ban finally at an end, the company has spent some crucial time evaluating its tyre compounds at the Monza circuit.
The tyre manufacturer is confident that it will give a good performance this weekend as it has scored six of its 74 F1 grand prix victories at Monza, courtesy of Jody Scheckter (Ferrari, 1979), Alain Prost (Renault, 1981), René Arnoux (Renault, 1982), Nelson Piquet (Brabham-BMW, 1983), Niki Lauda (McLaren-TAG Turbo, 1984) and Juan Pablo Montoya (BMW WilliamsF1 Team, 2001). And according to the company pre-race testing at Monza went very well with Antonio Pizzonia setting the week’s fastest lap in his Williams-BMW.

Pierre Dupasquier, Michelin motorsport director commented: “During the recent tests at Monza, there were two incidents involving tyres: two rear tyres were damaged – and the pressure loss was accurately identified and measured by the on-board telemetry. Missing valve caps were clearly to blame on both occasions.

“This is another factor to add to the numerous theories that have been put forward since the spate of spectacular tyre incidents during the most recent race in Spa – where the inside edges of certain kerbs were suspected of having caused a few problems. So far, our internal investigations have produced nothing that could provide a clear technical reason. That’s good news in a way, because we have not been able to identify any technical errors on our part, but at the same time it is frustrating because we have not been able to reach any definitive technical conclusions.”

Pascal Vasselon, Michelin F1 programme manager added: “As at most circuits, tyre manufacturers have to deliver a compromise when finalising tyre compounds for Monza. Despite the loads imposed by ultra-quick corners such as the Parabolica, tyre wear isn’t physically excessive. Combined with the sustained high speeds down the long straights, this lack of wear generates significant tyre temperatures. Consequently, we can’t afford to run compounds that are too soft. We will bring four different dry-weather options to Monza. Michelin has performed very well at Monza in recent seasons and our encouraging testing form indicates that our engineers have struck the right balance once again.”

8th September 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Group Tyre Team Win Michelin F1 Pitstop Challenge

A team made up of tyre fitters from Elite Garages of Horsham and Broadway Tyres of High Wycombe demonstrated their high speed skills by winning Michelin F1 Pitstop Challenge at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

6th September 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Suggests Sharp Kerb Caused Blowout

Only a matter of days after Michelin said it will launch an enquiry into the events of the Belgian Grand Prix, the F1 tyre supplier has suggested a reason why its tyres appeared to fail.

1st September 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

BMW Motorsport Director Concerned About F1 Tyres

Dr Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport director, has raised concerns about the increasing amount of tyre damage that is taking place on the Grand Prix circuit.

31st August 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Free Tyre Choice In Formula 1?

In a strange request, Pierre Dupasquier, head of Michelin Motorsport, suggested that Formula 1 teams should not only be able to use any rubber compound, but also be free to choose which manufacturer’s products they will use. The proposal would give teams the freedom to decide from race to race whether to use Michelin or Bridgestone tyres.

26th August 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop’s Race Academy Winner

After three months of searching and 7000 applicants, Dunlop has finally found a Race Academy winner following the final stage at Silverstone on Tuesday.

Derby-based Andrew Walker won the title after the final three contestants took part in the track ‘shoot-out’ at Silverstone which included a media assessment, drives in the Porsche and Ginetta race car as well as the ARDS assessment and exam that was required to get the race license to compete at Brands Hatch.

The national search was launched at the Autosport Show in January with the intention of discovering a budding Jenson Button or Damon Hill and seven regional finalists were chosen to attend the Dunlop Race Academy.

After completing a fitness test, and a panel interview, featuring representatives from Dunlop, Ginetta and one of Britain’s top GT drivers, Calum Lockie, the drivers had to undergo a driving assessment.

Mr Walker will now take part in the Dunlop Drivers cup at Brands Hatch on 2-3 October.

James Bailey, Dunlop said: “We developed the Race Academy because Dunlop has been part of motorsport for over 100 years in the UK and felt that it was a good opportunity to put something back. We had a great response. 60,000 people looked at the application with around 7,000 entering the on-line test of motorsport and driving knowledge, so it’s proved a popular formula and we hope to repeat it next year.”

25th August 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Sauber Berate F1 Tyre Suppliers

The ongoing rivalry between Michelin and Bridgestone is having too much effect on the outcome of races, according to a BBC interview with Sauber team owner, Peter Sauber.

20th August 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper’s New Role to Control Motorsport Activities

James P Keller, has been announced as Cooper Tire and Rubber’s new vice president, competition and enthusiast products.

Based in Stow, Ohio, Mr Keller will assume his new role as of 15 August. His responsibilities will now focus on directing, administering and coordinating the company’s motorsport activities, this is to include both the Cooper-Avon racing interest in the UK and Mickey Thompson Performance Tires and Wheels based in Ohio.

“We are beginning to capitalise on the enormous global opportunities for Cooper Tire in the area of motorsports,” said Phillip D Caris, VP sales and marketing. “This newly-created position will help us continue to develop, promote, grow and maximize performance results and brand awareness from the targeted market niche of competition, performance and enthusiast products for Cooper’s North American tyre division as well as for our global motorsports activities.”

Mr Keller has held a variety of roles within his 21-year career at Cooper. Since May 2003 he has served as the plant manager for Cooper’s fluid systems manufacturing facility in Bowling Green, Ohio. Prior to this role, he served as the vice president of purchasing for three years.

4th August 2004/by Tyrepress Editors