Kumho, who only recently was appointed official tyre supplier to the global Auto GP Series, has now also won the contract to supply all the tyres for the Fédération Française du Sport Automobile's (FFSA) F4 single-seater racing championship.
Commercial vehicle venture Speedline Truck, created by global wheel manufacturer Ronal, has appointed SP Holding as the UK aftermarket agent for its new range of forged truck wheels. Marketed through an independent sales and distribution centre based in Italy, the new range represents the Ronal group’s response to what it perceives as a growing demand for forged aluminium truck wheels.
30 Goodride dealers saw the brand-supported Total Control Racing team driver Rob Smith continue his steep AirAsia Renault UK Clio Cup learning curve at Donington Park on 14-15 April. BMTR, Grouptyre and Goodride Performance Tyres were in the BMTR hospitality suite at the circuit. While Smith, a Loughborough University student, finished 17th in each race, Grouptyre says its guests found that the additional involvement of having a car and driver to support added to the experience.
Round three of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship will take place at Thruxton this weekend (28-29 April), with three races on Hampshire’s high-speed circuit. Thruxton is the fastest track on the calendar for the teams and drivers of Britain’s premier motor racing championship with cars running bumper-to-bumper at close to 150mph. Once again, title-sponsor Dunlop will supply the rubber for what will be another exciting round of action, while support races come from the Ginetta Junior, Ginetta GT Supercup, Porsche Carrera Cup and Renault Clio Cup grids.
Renault has chosen to fit Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tyres as original equipment for the Renault Clio RS Red Bull Racing RB7, launched in March 2012. The 200hp limited edition car was developed to celebrate Red Bull Racing’s Formula One Constructors’ title – Renault has supplied its RS27 V8 engine to the Milton Keynes-based team since the 2007 season.
After winning the "Car of the Year 2012" award, the Vauxhall/Opel Ampera has now also won the 13th International Monte Carlo Rally for electric and alternative propulsion cars.
Four Amperas ranked among the top 10 vehicles. The French duo Bernard Darniche and Joseph Lambert managed to beat the entire competitive field. On Sunday, the final day of the contest, the revolutionary electric vehicle reached the finish line in the capital of the Côte d'Azur principality.
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System and valve supplier Schrader has been sold for US$505 million after parent company Tomkins agreed a deal with private equity firm Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC. The deal is subject to the normal conditions and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2012. Schrader, which produces both OE and aftermarket TPMS and valve products reported 2011 revenues of approximately US$451 million and adjusted EBITDA of approximately US$76 million.
Pirelli has consistently said the aim of its 2012 specification tyre compounds would be to create increased variety in Formula One teams’ race strategies. The Italian supplier of the championship has proposed to do this by reducing the gaps in performance between its available compounds, and in the season opening Australian Grand Prix the new versions of the P Zero Yellow soft and P Zero White medium created a difference of around half a second per lap.
The tyre supply partnership between Michelin and Renault Sport Technologies for the World Series by Renault (WSR) championship has been extended until 2015. The tyre maker says Renault Sport Technologies chose to prolong its association with Michelin on the basis of its racing tyres’ performance and its commitment to develop specific tyres for use by WSR competitors. Michelin adds that the extension of the partnership between it and Renault Sport Technologies stands out as an opportunity to consolidate the commercial relationship between the two entities, and also makes a significant contribution to the development of Michelin’s new ranges of motorsport tyres.
Renault’s new electric car, the ZOE, is scheduled to be launched this year; the car, which is closely based upon the ZOE Preview concept car displayed in 2010, debuted at the Geneva Motor Show and will go on sale in the UK with a starting on-road price tag of £13,650 (after Plug-in Car Grant deduction). All ZOE models equipped with 15 and 16-inch rims will be fitted with Michelin’s new Energy E-V tyre as standard equipment.
Continental has released further information about its new Conti.e.Contact range of tyres for electric and hybrid vehicles. The tyres are being produced in Continental’s passenger car tyre factory in Korbach, Germany and the manufacturer has received its first original equipment deal – Renault has appointed Continental sole tyre supplier for its Twizy.
Japanese manufacturer Yokohama has a range of three van tyres available in the UK through its distributor Yokohama HPT and its nationwide dealer network. The patterns in the range aim to cover van applications across all conditions and circumstances, according to the company.
First in the commercial range is the RY818 tyre. Aimed predominantly at the urban delivery user, it features a flat tread pattern to maintain grip and safety under all vehicle load conditions while the design helps to improve water clearance in wet weather. Yokohama says its construction means that it will withstand the daily rigours of multiple deliveries, with its specially-designed kerbing rib protecting against sidewall damage, as well as resisting wear and generating long life and the all-important commercial consideration: value for money.
From its beginnings in 2006, born out of the OEM electronics powerhouse’s manufacturer diagnostics expertise, Actia reports that its Multi-Diag device has grown to be a leading diagnostic tool. In According to the company, ACTIA Group invented the first diagnostic tool for Renault in 1985 and in 2003, before purchasing Muller BEM. This brought together two global businesses specialising in vehicle electronics and diagnostics garage equipment which forms the basis of the company as it is today. And the latest news is that the firm has released new software for the Multi-Diag device.
Bosch Automotive Aftermarket has appointed Alex Gibson and Paul Rendell as technical service advisors in the UK. The appointments were made following the transfer of existing advisors, Steve Meloy and Kevin Lyon, to the Data Engineering team and Original Equipment division, respectively. Gibson and Rendell join the hotline team responsible for providing technical assistance to Bosch customers to support servicing, diagnostic trouble-shooting, and replacement and repair of automotive products.
The Telegraph reports engineering firm Tomkins plc is selling its Schrader Electronics Ltd. tyre pressure monitoring systems business for approximately £550 million. Tomkins has appointed Barclays Capital to manage the sale of the Northern Ireland based business; The Telegraphs states that Tomkins’ Sensors and Valves business, which is also located in Northern Ireland, is being sold along with Schrader. According to the newspaper, a “handful of private equity firms” have been approached regarding the sale.
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