Sell premium quality batteries, they Cost less than a tank of fuel. That’s the view put forward by Banner, the battery maker, which suggests it is prudent to supply and fit the best battery you can: “Budget batteries are fine for older cars without any electrical consumers but there are less of those on the roads today.”
At a ceremony held earlier this month, Porsche AG honoured its ten best suppliers from last year with a Porsche Supplier Award 2011. On this exclusive list of top suppliers was Pirelli, who was acknowledged in the production material category.
Fifty-six race cars from around the world took to Le Mans on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 June for the classic 24 Hours of Le Mans, and brake disc manufacturer, Brembo supplied more than two-thirds of the field with its lightweight, long-lasting brake technology. Lightness was of particular importance this year, as Audi’s No.1 R18 e-tron Quattro became the first event-winning hybrid. According to Brembo, most of the prototypes run lightweight monobloc aluminum calipers with carbon-carbon discs, 380mm in front and 355 or 332mm on the rear axle, while GT cars are required to use the heavier cast iron rotors. The Italian brake manufacturer has been dominant in its field at the 8.5-mile Circuit de la Sarthe and this year Brembo supplied 18 LMP prototypes and 18 GT cars, including every Aston Martin, Ferrari and Porsche.
Tyre manufacturer, Falken has unveiled its 2012 Porsche 997 RSR livery for the American Le Mans Series ahead of its second Sebring test on 28 and 29 February. Bryan Sellers will share the new for 2012 car with Wolf Henzler in the ALMS season opener at the Florida venue on 17 March.
Southam/Micheldever Tyres has added a new size to the General Grabber All-Terrain range. The 255/50R19 107H XL is suitable for Range Rover Sport, Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg to name just a few fitments.
Porsche fanatics David and Veronica Teer from Bodmin, Cornwall have won a set of Michelin’s N-specification Pilot Sport PS2 tyres for their Porsche 996 Carrera 2 Coupe, having entered a Michelin promotional competition run in collaboration with Porsche Centres. The competition required entrants to identify the N-marking Michelin puts on the sidewall of tyres designed specifically for Porsche.
David Ashburn claimed the 2010 Avon Tyres British GT Championship title at the penultimate round of the series at Brands Hatch in Kent last weekend. The 63-year-old and his Trackspeed Porsche teammate, Glynn Geddie, collected a win and a fifth place in the weekend’s pair of hour-long races and enough points to put the overall title beyond the reach of anyone but Ashburn.
Wolf Design, the range of alloy wheels and body kits from Wolfrace for the executive SUV and large saloon market, now includes a new Wolf RR alloy wheel in sizes 9.0×20", 10.0×20" and 9.5×22".
On March 19 Michelin became the first tyre manufacturer ever inducted into the Sebring International Raceway (Florida, USA) Hall of Fame, an accomplishment achieved through winning overall victories in the last 11 consecutive Twelve Hours of Sebring races. The following day a twelfth victory was added to Michelin’s tally. Along with its technical partner teams from Peugeot, Aston Martin, Porsche, Highcroft HPD, and Ferrari, the tyre maker secured the top six positions overall in the opening even of the 2010 American Le Mans Series. First and second places were secured by the Peugeot Sport team’s 12 cylinder, turbo diesel 908 HDI FAP cars, followed by the Lola Aston Martin in third place.
Michelin North America will become the first tyre maker and just the fourth company honoured with induction into the Florida based Sebring Hall of Fame. The distinction was announced on December 3 by the Sebring Sports Car Racing Hall of Fame board of directors, and acknowledges Michelin’s unprecedented 11 consecutive overall wins and 31 class wins at the 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race.
When the Wheeler Dealers TV programme upgraded a Porsche 944 into a track day cart the team chose Toyo Proxes R888’s the tyre manufacturer has reported. Mike Brewer, a well known motoring TV presenter, and Ed China, the star mechanic, buy and restore iconic cars and then try to sell them at a profit. In this instance they bought a 1987 Porsche 944 Turbo and planned to convert it into a race car, complete with a roll cage, new seats and a harness. They were looking for a specialist race tyre and a leading Porsche modification company recommended Toyo Tires. “Of course the tyre of choice was the ultra high performance Proxes R888; our road legal track tyre, known for its outstanding performance and phenomenal grip, both on and off the track,” company representatives told Tyres & Accessories (tyrepress.com), adding: “Mike brewer was amazed at the extreme stickiness of the tyres and the difference they made to the overall handling and performance of the car. By the end of the transformation, the Porsche looked and performed like a true race car and sold at a huge profit.”
Pirelli reports its 2009 motor sport season opened in the best possible way, with the securing of a decisive win in the 24 Hours of Dubai endurance race that took place on the weekend of January 10-11. After 24 hours of racing, the Land Motorsport Porsche 997GT3Cup, driven by Gabriel Abergel, Carsen Tilke, Niclas Kenberich and Andzej Dzikevic led home the other 58 finishers with a winning margin of half a lap.
Continental Tyre Group has announced a number of changes within its commercial management structure, changes the company says utilise current expertise and commitment to further strengthen its position in the UK market. Barry Guildford, previously a member of Continental’s Industrial division, joins the truck team as general sales manager – Truck Replacement. Guildford has an extensive background in truck marketing and more than seven years’ experience within the Continental group.
Porsche has increased its stake in Volkswagen ordinary shares to 50.8 per cent. Analysts Morgan Stanley say that, while the timing of such a move was impossible to predict, this is absolutely in line with Porsche’s stated strategy of ultimately moving to 75 per cent of Volkswagen and seeking a domination agreement.
With this move, Porsche also acquires indirect control over Scania through VW’s 68.6 per cent voting stake in the Swedish truck maker. Porsche has made it clear that is has no strategic interest whatsoever in Scania or any interest in buying Scania shares. However, Swedish law requires Porsche to make a mandatory bid for Scania.
Production output at Continental AG will reportedly be reduced at the end of this year following cuts in production at most German vehicle manufacturers. According to Continental spokeswoman Antje Lewe, in the next few weeks the company will be “looking at each location individually” before deciding how long to curb production or at which facilities.
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