Motorsport Archives - Page 96 of 129

Two Hundred Champions in 2008

Cooper and Avon have shown particular strength in the field of motorsport, with more than 200 worldwide motorsport champions crowned on either tyre brand in 2008. One of the more impressive aspects of this record is the sheer variety of competitive motorsport championships and range of markets in which the manufacturer has enjoyed success.

In the US, Cooper continued its title sponsorship of the Cooper Tires Atlantic Championship powered by Mazda, where Finland’s Markus Niemela won the title in his rookie season. He held off challenges from second and third placed, Jonathan Bomarito and Jonathan Summerton, plus Greg and Leo Mansell, sons of 1992 F1 World Champion Nigel. From next year in Europe, Cooper Tire will also be the title sponsor for the UK’s premier single-seater championship, the British Formula 3 International Series.

30th October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Kumho-Sponsored Rallycross Dates Announced

Product News

The British Rallycross Drivers Association has unveiled the schedule for the 2009 Kumho Tyres British Rallycross Championship season. The 2009 championship will consist of eight rounds taking place over six weekends. The current financial climate as well as the need, wherever possible, to avoid date clashes with the European series and other UK rallycross meetings have been considered in the planning of the programme, said BRDA Chairman John Horton. These factors and the welcome return of the European Rallycross Championship to Britain have resulted in the 2009 calendar effectively offering a spring and autumn championship, giving competitors the possibility to spread their cost of competing and allowing time for family holidays in the summer months. The Championship will also maintain its strong links with the Motorsport Ireland Rallycross Championship; the latter’s final round forming the first round of the BRC at Mondello Park on March 8. The two series plan a second joint event at Pembrey in September.

29th October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bike Tyrestore Surveys Customer Service

Product News

Motorcycle tyre wholesaler Bike Tyrestore (BTS) is once again asking customers for their opinions about its service. BTS conducts the survey every year, asking buyers to rate all aspects of the service it provides on a scale of 1 (abysmal) to 10 (brilliant). All survey forms returned by freepost to the Birmingham based wholesaler, are entered into a draw with the first picked out of the hat winning form’s a Fortnum and Mason Christmas Hamper worth in excess of £150. BTS MD Peter Smith told Tyres & Accessories that performance score rates are generally 9 or 10 and that every year useful ideas and suggestions are picked up from the survey.

29th October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Dunlop Wins Top PR Awards

Product News

Two PR campaigns by tyre company Goodyear Dunlop have been commended by industry experts, having been awarded three gold awards for its commitment to corporate social responsibility and use of photography, as well as receiving the prize for best publication.

The 2008 Goodyear Playground Appeal, which saw the tyre giant grant a needy playground a £10,000 makeover, has been deemed a worthy winner in the Midlands CIPR PRide Awards which recognise outstanding work in the field of communications and public relations. The accolade, which was awarded in the corporate responsibility category, was given to Goodyear for successfully executing the campaign and communicating the brand’s continued commitment to family safety through the Playground Appeal. Using an intensive media relations strategy, the campaign successfully positioned the brand as champion in the family safety arena whilst taking a responsible stance on the environment through recycling.

28th October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Get Out of the Groove

Product News

Bridgestone is to work with slick rubber for the first time since 1997 in the 2009 Formula One season. Rule changes are to prevent the use of grooved racing tyres next season, meaning that this weekend’s season-closer in Brazil will be the grooves’ last stand.

Hirohide Hamashima, the company’s director of motorsport tyre development, explained the company’s 188 Grand Prix history with grooved tyres to F1 news sources: “Developing grooved tyres was very exciting for us as we only had experience of slick racing tyres. We had the challenge of developing a tyre with a hard compound because of the structure and tread profile of the tyre, but one which gave the good grip required for Formula One. From an engineering perspective it has been a very interesting aspect of our motorsport activities. We began testing our first grooved tyres in 1997 with Damon Hill. The first tyres were a modified slick tyre to let us understand the differences and requirements of a grooved tyre. We soon found that the wear rate on the front tyre was very high, and we experienced a lot of graining, so the compound we used for this tyre would have to be a lot harder.

27th October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Score 15th 2008 MotoGP Victory

Product News

Bridgestone has concluded its 2008 MotoGP season with panache in Valencia, Spain setting the company up for next year, when the manufacturer will take on complete tyre provision duties for the series. Casey Stoner took his Bridgestone-shod Ducati to the win, while Honda’s Dani Pedrosa and this season’s World Champion, Italian rider Valentino Rossi, made up the rest of the podium. Rossi’s third-place, which he took impressively from a starting grid position of tenth, meant that he set a new points record for a MotoGP season with 373. Australia’s Stoner (280) and Spain’s Pedrosa (249) made up the rest of the season-ending top three.

Hiroshi Yamada, Bridgestone Motorsport’s Motorcycle Sport Unit’s manager, told motorsport journalists, “I could not have asked for a better way to end this successful season for Bridgestone. Casey rode a faultless race and thoroughly deserved his sixth win of the season. Together with Casey and Ducati, we have taken wins at the beginning and end of this season… We enter a new era for next season with a sole tyre supply regulation, but it has been a great pleasure for Bridgestone to have been part of a competition scenario with our rivals [Michelin] in MotoGP since 2002. After such a long season, I would like to thank each and every one of our riders, teams and their staff for a tremendous support this year, and to all Bridgestone staff at the track and at the factory for their invaluable individual contributions. Tomorrow marks the first day of testing in preparation for next season and we will surely have another big challenge ahead of us.”

27th October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

European Pirelli Star Drivers Chosen

Product News

Following two demanding days of rally action, the European winners of the Pirelli Star Driver have been named. Challenges faced by the 18 candidates included a series of interviews with the judging panel and a demonstration of practical skills on six driving stages, and based on their performance Finland’s Jarkko Nikara and the Czech Republic’s Martin Semerad were selected to represent the region.

27th October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

First Stop F1 Day Raises £1000

Motorsport

First Stop dealership, Addison Tyres, recently raised a fantastic £1000 for Leukaemia CARE. Addison Tyres hosted an event at its depot, in Tipton in the Midlands, where they showcased Bridgestone’s Formula One car and simulator to help raise money for the charity.

23rd October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

“Motorsport Remains our Mobile Laboratory”

Product News

Looking back on its year in motorsport, Marangoni reflects that racing has oftentimes given the company opportunities to push forward commercial and technological developments in a competitive forum. From the toughest of endurance racing, through specialist events and one-make championships, to the mountain hill climbs of Italy, Marangoni rubber has again taken a number of podiums.

However Derek Carruthers, global sales and marketing director believes that race victories are only one form of success: “Again this season, Marangoni has been performing in various motorsport disciplines and helping drivers to achieve impressive results. Motorsport remains our mobile laboratory, with tyre development opportunities through competitive use translating into tangible technical advances in our road tyres. Our communication strategy to the consumer is that your tyres have been developed and continue to be proven in some of the toughest motorsport disciplines, delivering total performance whatever the drive and whatever the conditions. This is a substantiated claim that our Team Marangoni colleagues can communicate with total confidence.”

23rd October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop Gets New Mercedes Roadster OE-Contract

Product News

Dunlop’s ultra-high performance tyre SP Sport Maxx GT has been made original equipment on the new Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Black Series. The car delivers an unprecedented amount of power for a Mercedes roadster, meaning – Dunlop says – that the choice was made on the basis of the manufacturer’s experience and track record with high and ultra-high performance tyres.

Mercedes tuner AMG uses the SP Sport Maxx GT at the demanding DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen-Meisterschaft, or German Touring Car Championship), one of Europe’s largest motorsport events. The new powerful two-seater road version, which continues AMG’s successful Black Series strategy, follows the appearance of famous AMG sports cars, such as the DTM CLK-Class or the CLK-GTR from the 1997 FIA GT-Series. Mercedes believes that the AMG 6.0-litre V12-Biturbo engine – with a maximum power of 493 kW (670 hp) – promises performance at the highest sports car levels and fulfils the expectations of the most demanding driving enthusiasts.

21st October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Appointed MotoGP Tyre Supplier

Product News

The sole remaining major contender for the MotoGP tyre supply contract following Michelin’s decision not to bid has been officially named. On October 18 Bridgestone was officially appointed the sole tyre supplier for the MotoGP World Championship for a three-year period starting 2009. The Japanese tyre major was the only tyre manufacturer to submit a proposal to Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and Dorna following the September announcement from FIM that MotoGP would become a single tyre make series as of next year. The specific regulations pertaining to the single tyre contract will be confirmed by FIM in ‘due course’, reports Bridgestone.

20th October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Kumho Moves into New European Motorsport Headquarters

Product News

For the past ten years Kumho’s European Motorsport Division has been based on the Stanmore Industrial Estate in Bridgnorth, Shropshire. The division has long since moved from its first building on the site and now, due to expansion, it has taken possession of a still larger premises, one that will accommodate ongoing growth for some years to come. The new warehouse occupies an area of 28,000 square feet, and is accompanied by an adjacent 4,000 square feet of office space plus large conference room.

20th October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Maxxis Reviews its Sporting Year

Premium, Product News

Maxxis has reported a successful motorsport year thanks to its high profile sponsorship of motocross and participation in the British Superbikes and a top European drifting series. The brand has continued to make strides forward in cycle sports and – proving that it truly has arrived has even featured in an off-road racing computer game.

Maxxis has been a major supporter of British motocross and this season’s ACU British Motocross Championship. The competition’s events aired regularly on Sky Sports, and once again delivered some first class action. Riding for CAS Honda, reigning MX1 class champion Billy MacKenzie, 24, dominated the field to take his second successive domestic title, while fellow Scot Shaun Simpson, 20, clinched the MX2 title – his first national adult championship – riding for KTM UK.

Maxxis-sponsored teams fared well, with ARB Tuning Kawasaki’s Mark Jones and Jamie Lewis finishing fourth and joint 10th in the MX1 class respectively, while Kawasaki Relentless Suzuki MX rider Lewis Gregory put in some solid performances to round out the top ten in the MX2 class. In addition to taking title sponsorship of arguably Europe’s strongest motocross series, Maxxis sponsored the 2008 MXY2 Championship and continued as a major sponsor of and official tyre supplier to Team Green.

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17th October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Kumho’s Euro Motorsport HQ Continues to Strengthen

Product News

Kumho’s ever-expanding European Motorsport Division has been based on the Stanmore Industrial Estate in Bridgnorth, Shropshire for ten years. Having long since moved from its first building on the site, it has now taken possession of still bigger premises that will allow ongoing growth for some years to come. At any one time the Bridgnorth warehouse is home to thousands of competition tyres. They are manufactured to order in the company’s Korean factories, shipped to Bridgnorth and then supplied to teams and events throughout Europe.

The seven-strong team at Bridgnorth have a pair of fully-equipped trucks with which they provide on-event support to many of the company’s top race and rally competitors. Others are supported by the comprehensive European network of specialist Kumho motorsport tyre dealers. Adjoining the new 28,000 sq ft warehouse is 4,000 sq ft of smart, modern office accommodation for the benefit of both the permanent staff and visiting Kumho executives. There is also a large, state-of-the-art conference room on site.

An integral part of the division’s activities is providing the R&D department and factory with the information they need in order to keep designing and developing winning products. In turn, all the lessons learnt in the heat of the racetrack and the often damp, muddy conditions of the rally stage are incorporated in the design of Kumho’s UHP road tyres, helping to provide them with greater levels of performance.

17th October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Wins for Yokohama-shod Runners in Tour of Mull

Product News

The 2008 Tour of Mull Rally proved a successful event for Yokohama, with Paul MacKinnon’s Advan A006T tarmac tyre-shod Subaru Impreza winning the event outright and Tristan Pye’s Impreza N11 winning the Group N class of the event. The Tour of Mull is one of the most iconic events in British club rallying. Running on the abrasive asphalt roads around the remote Scottish island, changeable weather conditions typically make tyre choice extremely difficult. Drivers are often forced to compromise when it comes to selecting the ideal pattern and compound for stages that may be wet in parts and dry in others, or where the weather can change part-way through a stage.

This year, both MacKinnon and Pye were using the latest specification of Yokohama’s moulded slick tarmac tyre. It would be the second time Pye has used the Japanese manufacturer’s products, as he clinched this year’s Production Cup in the BTRDA rally series, which included two asphalt events.

16th October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

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