Welsh rally legend Gwyndaf Evans was on hand to help organisers launch the 2006 Wales Rally GB in style at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff this week. The Hankook-backed driver is playing a starring role in the British Rally Championship this year and is eagerly looking forward to Wales Rally GB – which is this year the finale for the British Rally Championship.
Kumho Tires has appointed Roger Jenkins as managing director of its Kumho Europe Technical Centre (KETC). He joins the Birmingham-based R&D facility from Goodyear Dunlop where he was manager of the Dunlop Technical Division based at Fort Dunlop.
(Akron/Tire Review) News reports say that Pirelli SpA may throw its hat back into the Formula One tyre ring. According to Autosport magazine, Paul Hemery, head of Pirelli’s motorsport programme, said the company was considering all of its options after FIA began accepting bids for tyre suppliers for the 2008 season.
After 1674 miles and 10 days, and a detour to the Blue Peter studios, extreme charity fundraiser Lloyd Scott is set to become the first person to successfully drive from John O’Groats to Land’s End in a car running on flat tyres. The marathon drive for Goodyear’s RunOnFlat Rally included special sections on notorious roads, attempted on four completely deflated tyres.
Pulling into Aire Point, near Land’s End today, extreme charity fundraiser Lloyd, has drawn gasps and laughter from on-lookers with his special driving suit, a mixture of Mr Toad from Wind in the Willows fame and the notorious Dick Dastardly character from iconic cartoon Wacky Racers.
Pirelli have confirmed that they are ‘reviewing’ their position with regard to competing in the FIA World Rally Championship beyond 2006. Reports in the latest edition of Autosport speculate that the Italian tyre manufacturer is considering quitting the sport and that they are less than happy now that Michelin is promoting its sister brand, BF Goodrich. However when contacted by Crash.net for clarification, Pirelli’s rally manager, Paul Hembery added that quitting the sport is only one option and that ‘many scenarios’ are possible for 2007 and beyond.
Goodyear has set eccentric British challenger Lloyd Scott, a new challenge – drive the length of the nation on flat tyres. Lloyd, 48, from Essex, who has previously cycled across Australia on a Penny Farthing bicycle and completed this year’s London Marathon in a full suit of armour, has agreed to take the wheel throughout May for Goodyear’s RunOnFlat Rally. The RunOnFlat Rally will see Lloyd drive the more than 1600 miles in distance across the British Isles, from John O’Groats, where he started yesterday, to Land’s End in a Mini with flat tyres.
Katsuhiko Taguchi and co-driver Mark Stacey of Team MRF Tyres recently won the New Caledonia round of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), which consisted of two super special stages and rough stages. Their Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VIII finished a remarkable six minutes and 26 seconds ahead of the second-placed Mitsubishi of Rifat Sungkar, from Indonesia.
Since BFGoodrich took over supplying some WRC teams, the brand has been showing its high-performance colours. Now managers are offering independent dealers some great opportunities to taste the hi-octane lifestyle.
Like other influential companies Michelin group brand BFGoodrich has felt the effect of a downturn in general passenger car replacement market. However, though sales volumes dropped in the first half of 2005, associate brand manager Dominic Clark reports that this was compensated for in the second half -against the market trend. While some sources put the total market downturn between 11 and 13 per cent, BFGoodrich only experienced an 8 per cent drop in the first half of 2005. In the second half sales compensated for the first half results and the company ended the year only 1.2 per cent down on 2004.
With the first round of the British Rally Championship getting underway next week the Hankook SJR team is making its final preparations for its first assault on Britain’s premier rally series. Former British Rally Champion Gwyndaf Evans and new talent Stuart Jones will spearhead the team’s campaign in the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship which beings in Carlisle on Saturday 13 May.
For Beru AG, innovative product development and commitment to motor sport have always gone hand in hand. And from April 2006 onwards the Ludwigsburg-based automotive equipment supplier will also be sponsoring the FIA World Touring Car Championship. The company, a specialist in ignition technology, diesel cold-start technology, electronics and sensor technology, is to become involved in the FIA World Touring Car Championship (FIA WTCC).
After successful involvement in the first two events, leading UK exhaust and car parts supplier CES (UK) has stepped up its support as co-sponsor of the annual Three Castles Welsh Classic Trial (31 May – 3 June), the new single centre, multi-day, classic car rally for the fourth year. This has become Britain’s most popular classic car rally since being introduced in 2003.
Brazilian company Borrachas Vipal S.A., a leading worldwide manufacturer of tyre retreading and repair products, will be participating at Reifen 2006—and will be showcasing its complete line of products, particularly its exclusive retreading and repair lines.
Retreading specialist Kraiburg Austria will showcase its extensive product and service range on its exhibition stand at the Reifen 2006 exhibition in Essen. Following the motto “Always the right tread”, Europe’s no. 1 producer will present a representative cross-section of its full range at the show. This will include treads from the established Kraiburg range for all applications, as well as the new premium Kraiburg plus range. The Austrians also have a few specialised products in the range, such as retreaded rally, karting and lawn tyres.
(Australian Tyre Dealer) Stuckey Tyre Service in Victoria and Kostera Tyre Service in Western Australia have been appointed as distributors for Dunlop, Avon and Waymaster brand vintage tyres in Australia.
Chris Marchant, managing director of Vintage Tyre Supplies UK (exclusive worldwide distributor for Dunlop, Avon and Waymaster brand vintage tyres), has made these appointments in order to service its exclusive range of Vintage and Classic tyres in Australia.
BFGoodrich, seven times winner of the Dakar Rally since 1999, is poised to introduce a number of new 4×4 tyres to its range in 2006. These are the All-Terrain T/A Comp, aimed at off-road rallying competitors, the Krawler T/A® KX, scheduled for launch in Europe in May, plus four new dimensions for the Macadam T/A.
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