Ellerbrock has published a new catalogue detailing the latest updates to its Profil Liner range of retreads. The latest PRL catalogue is available to download free of charge from the following address: http://ellerbrock.de/images/prl_actuell.pdf
Michelin’s Formula 1 boss, Pascal Vasselon, has changed jobs into serial tyre production. The move is an apparent reaction to the fact that Michelin has failed to achieve a world championship in four years of commitment, online news portal F1total.com reports.
It has not yet been decided who will be the 41 year old’s successor. The exact reasons for Mr Vasselon’s displacement also remain unclear, as he was generally regarded as an integral and highly esteemed part of Michelin’s Formula 1 team.
Dunlop Tyres have published a new website which features articles of motorsports greatest charcters, including Sir Jackie Stewart, Nigel Mansell and Sir Stirling Moss. The ‘Drivers Know’ site also provides features on the jazz generation, as well as new design technology looking at Dunlop’s RunFlat tyres and the ultra-high performance tyre, SP Sport Maxx.
Visitors to the site will also get a chance to take a break at Café Dunlop. Here there are reviews on great reads for the passionate driver, the best driving films ever made and the ideal musical accompaniment to the perfect drive. Take a look at the design icons gallery or enter the forum for your say. There are also competitions to win your dream drive or the chance to win the ultimate jazz collection.
Commenting on their most recent part of the company’s publicity drive, Geraldine McGovern, Dunlop brand manager said: “The blend of articles and features on the site were all provided by people in the know. The intelligent premium content from motorsport to lifestyle features delivers Dunlop’s Drivers Know proposition online”
Compressed air, pneumatics and process control product supplier, Thorite has launched a new website which brings a host of benefits to online buyers. The redesigned website is easier to navigate, has more features, lists more products and includes a huge range of regularly updated special offers, with savings exclusive to users of Thorite’s new online shopping service “Thorite Direct”.
The website’s main content comprises sections on industrial and workshop products, backed by useful information on services, product news, head office and regional sales and service centre staff and recently published Thorite sales literature. There is also a search facility, details of vacancies within the organisation, a company history and a “FAQ” section.
Referring to the new website, Thorite’s marketing director, Ross Gowler, said: “We were determined to create a colourful and involving on-line presence, which would reflect the vitality and high levels of product choice and service which Thorite now embodies. I’m delighted that our customers will now benefit from both a vastly enlarged content and worthwhile savings when ordering via the web.”
A battery search facility, which provides fitment details at the touch of a button, is now available online at Exide Technologies’ website. The new feature, which has been added to the site following development from the company’s marketing team, enables users to call up a host of useful information by simply typing in the details of the car or commercial vehicle model.
“This is an excellent tool for trade customers who can carry out a search for the correct battery application within seconds. It’s not only quick but extremely user-friendly, detailing all the technical aspects of the product in a clear-cut format,” commented Craig Everett, Exide Technologies’ UK marketing manager. “This project also demonstrates Exide’s commitment to maintaining its high levels of customer service and technical support through the introduction of exciting initiatives such as this new online battery search facility,” he added.
Online motorsport news services are reporting that Williams, Renault and Toyota are all linked possible moves from Michelin to Bridgestone next season. According to the website Bridgestone has approached all six Michelin-shod Formula 1 teams, including McLaren, Jaguar and BAR. Williams, Renault and Toyota are believed to have responded with requests fore more information, according to British media sources. The source said Bridgestone wants at least one carmaker-backed Michelin team to switch camps and thus contribute to development of next year’s Formula 1 product.
New rules in 2005, requiring a Formula One tyre to have a longer life, will mean that the quality, and quantity, of this winter’s development will be even more crucial to success.
German online service, F1Total is reporting that Bridgestone has declared its innocence in the recently tyre ‘theft’ fiasco. The company made its comments in response to accusations that Jenson Button’s blown Michelin could have ended up in Bridgestone’s possession. Bridgestone spokesman, Adrian Atkinson, said there was nothing in the accusations and that the Japanese tyre supplier had no parts of Button’s tyre. Observers expect that it is just a matter of time before the whole issue blows over.
Europe’s biggest online tyre dealer, the Hanover based Delticom AG, has signed an investment contract with a local bank and a local private equity firm. The deal is the company’s second investment contract. Four years ago the online tyre dealer took on an investor, the company writes in its press release. With this new deal Delticom is seeking to allow for further international expansion and the build-up of a global network, explain the company’s two chairmen Andreas Prüfer and Rainer Binder. “With regards to a possible floating of our shares we are well prepared,“ they say. Delticom has not published the size of the new investment contract or any figures relating to the ownership situation of the company. This year Delticom expects to achieve a turnover of £44.5 million.
Online tyre retailer, Black Circles, has won an e-commerce award at the Scottish 2004 National Business Awards.
The company views the award as an endorsement of its strategy to trade predominantly online. The E-Strategy Business of the Year Award joins the company’s Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year award received by Black Circles’ 25 year old managing director Mike Welch.
Mr Welch commented: “Our overall business strategy, including the e-commerce strategy, is highly innovative and includes a highly appealing consumer offering. We sell top brand name tyres cheaply and we fit them at a location of your choice at a time of your choice. That has already been shown to be appealing to tens of thousands of consumers across the UK already and this award is further endorsement that we are continuing to go in the right direction.”
The company’s web service allows consumers to source, purchase and arrange tyre fitting all online.
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.
The online service “f1total.com” has reported that as of next season Formula One drivers will no longer be allowed to use more than three sets of tyres per racing weekend. It has also said, that both the qualifying heat and the race would then have to be performed on the same set of tyres.
The reduced grip of the tyres, a result of these measures, is expected to lead to an increased number of driving faults and longer braking distances. On top of this if drivers are prevented from changing their tyres during pit stops, the number of take-over manoeuvres could increase.
“Currently, when a driver re-enters the track after a pit stop the higher grip of his new tyres guarantee that he – although sitting in a heavier car after refuelling – can keep his competitors behind him. With a heavier car and worn tyres this will be much more difficult,” said Sam Michael, technical director of the BMW Williams Formula One team, quoted by “f1total.”
German manufacturer Fulda has launched a brand new website in the UK – www.fulda.co.uk. The site will provide the company with a greater opportunity to showcase its ‘German High Technology’ and allow visitors to navigate easily through its range of products.
The new online service offers news and information covering all of the company’s market segments, including passenger car, 4×4, light van, heavy truck and farm tyres. The site also looks at the production process, features, benefits and the sizes available in each of these ranges.
The ‘Fulda Challenge’, an endurance competition run by the manufacturer is one of the site’s more unique features. The company is searching for a one man and one woman team to represent Great Britain in the 2005 Fulda Tyres Extreme Arctic Challenge, an alpine sporting event, applications are available online.
Marcus White, brand manager for Fulda Tyres UK comments: ‘I am delighted with the launch of this brand new website. It really does complement the current range of high quality products now available in the UK across the market segments of car, 4×4, light van and truck. We have a strong belief that this current focus on Fulda will drive forward the brand and position ourselves strongly in the UK market.’
The Internet’s largest compilation of Tyres Tests is now available online. The tests, which cover more than 940 tyres from across the UK and Europe have been collated and published on the Tyres & Accessories for the first time. Each entry contains a brief profile, review and a reference to the original source.
In order to navigate this huge database, products can be searched in terms of brand, model, year, width, height, diameter or speed index.
The test database is regularly kept up-to-date and will include the results of the new winter tyre tests when they come out in early October.
To visit the tyre test database click here or look out for the ‘tyre tests online’ animation.
The 2005 season will see the introduction of new regulations governing competition vehicles. The FIA has assigned experts to ensure that speeds will be reduced in the next Formula 1 season. The decision will also lead to further rules regarding tyres.
Resulting from a co-operation between the car manufacturers Volkswagen and Ferrari could be an involvement of the Germans in the Italian sports car manufacturer, which also owns Maserati. Should Fiat need more money in order to emerge from its own crisis Volkswagen could be ready for a take-over if the price for Ferrari is right. So writes the German online service Der Spiegel-Online. In the meantime Volkswagen denies the news as an “absolute speculation”.
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