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Pirelli’s softest F1 tyres to take on hotter challenge in Hungary

The tight and twisty Hungaroring on the outskirts of Budapest will offer an increased hot weather challenge to Pirelli’s soft and super soft tyres in the Hungarian Grand Prix. The circuit’s infrequent use makes the surface dusty and slippery that Pirelli expect will offer more grip as the weekend progresses and rubber is laid down. The slippery surface is the reason for the supplier’s choice of its PZero Yellow and PZero Red tyres, with 16 tight corners and a low average speed making the circuit better suited to the softer tyres. The high temperatures are likely to represent a conservation challenge, especially since this is the first time the supersoft Red compound will be used in very warm weather.

26th July 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

90% UHP surge in Europe helps Hankook to quarterly sales record

Hankook Tire has announced second quarter global sales of KRW 1,580 billion (£917 million), a rise of 21 per cent year on year, and the company’s best ever quarter. Operating profit for the quarter was KRW 110.7 billion. The region where the company experienced the greatest growth was the emerging Russian market, where Hankook nearly doubled its sales. In other major territories, sales grew by between a third and a half, with European figures at the top end of this scale. Hankook said its figures demonstrate the “increased recognition” of the quality of its tyres, as the ultra high performance segment outstripped total sales growth in its major markets, most notably in Europe, where the Korean manufacturer sold 89.6 per cent more UHP tyres year on year. Original equipment sales in the segment were also up 90 per cent in consolidated non-domestic markets.

26th July 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

2011 TAFF Awards preview

It's that time of the year again, when the tyre industry casts its votes to pick the winners of the NTDA's Tyre & Fast Fit (TAFF) Awards. A voting form is included in this magazine (and in our July issue) with the names of those companies that made the final shortlist or votes can be cast via the NTDA website. The final shortlist was compiled from nominations from NTDA members.

The winners will be announced at the NTDA's Annual Dinner, which this year is being held at the Hilton Metropole Hotel at the NEC, Birmingham on 20th October.
The categories are the same as in previous years, but there is also a new award for 2011 – that of "Tyre Centre of the Year". Retailers are invited to propose a depot or garage for consideration and those centres nominated will be the subject of a "mystery shopping" exercise, carried out by Encircle Marketing, who have extensive experience in this area.

25th July 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Stoner consistency the key to US MotoGP victory

Casey Stoner used the harder compound Bridgestone slicks to climb from third and take a decisive victory at Laguna Seca in MotoGP’s US Grand Prix. Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa’s early pace faded in the latter stages, and Stoner’s ascent to the lead in lap 27 of 32 proved decisive. Hirohide Hamashima, assistant to director of Bridgestone’s Motorsport Tyre Development Division said: “The harder option front and rear slicks were clearly the faster options today and, especially in the case of Casey, consistency was impressive. Whilst his fastest lap was a few tenths off the lap record, the total race time was 2.7 seconds faster than the previous record which is a very good indication of consistency and durability.

25th July 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

“Exactly what we were aiming for” – Hembery at German GP

Paul Hembery, Formula One tyre supplier Pirelli’s motorsport director, has hailed both the varied strategies of drivers in the German Grand Prix and race winner Lewis Hamilton’s use of the less-fancied medium compound PZero White tyre as indicative of the brand’s continued success in its first season back in the sport. The victory was Hamilton’s second of the 2011 season following 60 laps of battles for the lead. Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso was second, ahead of Red Bull Racing’s Mark Webber – who started from pole – in third.

25th July 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone seeks US MotoGP performance upgrade

MotoGP tyre supplier Bridgestone is taking a softer rear compound to the US Grand Prix this weekend in the hope that they will provide a further performance improvement to that of the asymmetric rears Bridgestone supplied to west coast California’s Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca last year. Hirohide Hamashima – assistant to director, Motorsport Tyre Development Division explained: “Last year at Laguna we saw an improvement in tyre performance when we selected our asymmetric rear slicks for the first time in the single supply era there, and I hope by choosing softer rear compounds this season we will see another step forward in performance.

22nd July 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Heidfeld returns to Pirelli – as guest – for the German Grand Prix

A reunion of sorts took place yesterday as part of the German Grand Prix run-up activities: Pirelli’s pre-race press event was visited by the tyre maker’s original test driver, Nick Heidfeld. Although some frowned upon the German driver’s departure from Pirelli last year to secure a driving position with Sauber Motorsport, Heidfeld was welcomed as the star guest at the Pirelli event, which was hosted by Pirelli Germany managing director Michael Schwobel and Pirelli’s motorsport director Paul Hembery.

22nd July 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Navarro to lead Pirelli NAFTA communications

Pirelli Tire North America has appointed Rafael Navarro, III to the newly formed post of vice-president, Communications and Media Relations. In his new position, Navarro is responsible for all internal and external communications for Pirelli in the NAFTA region. His job description involves integrating public relations and working closely with the marketing and motorsport departments of all three country offices, overseeing brand activity. Additionally, he will continue to manage key influencer relationships in the region.

21st July 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Zircotec supports 10 teams at Formula Student

Coatings specialist Zircotec supported 10 teams at Formula Student 2011, which was held at Silverstone last weekend. The firm’s ceramic coatings were used by a number of the participants including University of Hertfordshire, Coventry University and Cambridge, the latter adopting Zircotec’s patented carbon composite coating to protect a composite bulkhead. “Zircotec believes that Formula Student is an extremely worthwhile activity, helping participants to understand and implement the technologies of today’s contemporary race cars,” says Zircotec’s managing director Terry Graham.

20th July 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli bringing PZero White and Yellow to Nürburgring

Formula One visits the Nürburgring this weekend for the German Grand Prix, and Pirelli has selected its soft and medium compounds to take on the technical GP track, which has a strong mix of speeds and corners. The track features a number of heavy braking areas, while the tyres are also put to the test by several impacts with the kerbing that is a feature of the track. Pirelli’s motorsport director Paul Hembery says: “The Nurburgring is one of the most technical circuits we face all year, with a lot of lateral energy going through the tyres, and this makes strategy very important.”

20th July 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

MotoGP: Friday falls “unfortunate”, Pedrosa sets German GP record

After MotoGP’s German GrandPrix Friday morning practice session, it looked like Bridgestone may have some explaining to do, with some of the sport’s fastest riders experiencing falls after losing grip. Assistant to director, Motorsport Tyre Development Division, Hirohide Hamashima told the press that unusually cold conditions during the session, coupled with the course’s modest quota of three right-hand corners, had combined to leave riders with little heat in the right side of their front tyres. The tyre supplier brought hard and extra hard front and medium and hard asymmetric rear slicks for the weekend, which Dani Pedrosa used to set new lap and total race time records on the Sunday in his second race since returning from injury. Pedrosa, Jorge Lorenzo and Casey Stoner spent the race locked in a three-way battle for the lead, ahead of a three-way battle for fourth and a four-way battle for seventh, keeping the 101,309 race-day fans thoroughly entertained.

19th July 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone to make more preferred tyres available in MotoGP

Bridgestone has announced a proposed revision to its tyre allocation procedure and selected tyre compounds for the remaining races of the 2011 MotoGP season, effective from the Czech Republic Grand Prix. The supplier worked with the Safety Commission – on which riders, FIM, IRTA and Dorna are represented – to decide on the proposal in response to rider feedback. Bridgestone has in the last 18 months developed and introduced its extra soft compound in 2010 and selected softer tyre compounds for the Catalunya, British, Dutch, Italian and German Grands Prix so far this year. The US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca next weekend will see softer rear slicks introduced to attempt to improve warm-up performance, especially as the morning sessions can be cool.

18th July 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli to host FOTA fan forum at Italian Grand Prix

Pirelli has announced that it’s Milan headquarters will host the Formula One Teams’ Association Fans Forum event. The forum will take place at 17:00 on Wednesday 7 September, just before the Italian Grand Prix, with some of the leading drivers and team principals in attendance. Pirelli confirms Stefano Domenicali, Nico Rosberg, Jarno Trulli and the tyre supplier’s motorsport director Paul Hembery will be present.

18th July 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone announces online F1 Heritage contest

Pirelli may be top tyre dog in Formula One these days, but Bridgestone’s 14 years as supplier to the championship have not been forgotten. Those wishing to recall the Japanese manufacturer’s Formula One glory days may well be interested in entering into Bridgestone Europe’s F1 Heritage Contest – a celebration of 14 years, 11 Drivers’ and Constructors’ championships, 175 race victories, 168 poles and 170 fastest laps.

14th July 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli raises £6,386 for Children’s Hospital

Pirelli has donated items to a charity auction and held a donation-based simulator experience on its stand at Silverstone’s British Grand Prix, raising £6,386 for the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity. The auction was held on Wednesday 6 July at the F1 Party held at London’s Natural History Museum for the hospital’s Heart and Lung Centre, and Pirelli donated, among other things, a wind tunnel tyre signed by Britain’s last two Formula One World Champions: Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton. Red Bull principal Christian Horner, BBC F1 presenter Jake Humphrey and man about town Vernon Kay were among those in attendance.

13th July 2011/by Tyrepress Editors