Silverstone [United Rubber (PVT) Ltd.]
Before this weekend’s Canadian grand prix, the major F1 tyre story had been the FIA’s decision to make Mercedes and Pirelli appear before an international tribunal based on the suspicion that Mercedes’ use of its 2013 car in a 1,000km tyre test "may constitute a breach" of the series’ rules. Mercedes principal, Ross Brawn has told BBC Sport’s chief F1 analyst Eddie Jordan that "it was a Pirelli test. What we were seeking was privacy not secrecy.”
Sebastian Vettel used two stops to saunter to his 29th career victory at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Canada. Vettel started on the P Zero Red supersoft tyre to sprint ahead of a similarly shod top 10 before switching to the P Zero White medium and completing the race with a final stint on this tyre. Despite wet qualifying conditions, Pirelli also completed some testing of its tweaked rear tyres in Friday practice, and Motorsport director Paul Hembery said the manufacturer would analyse the data gathered “over the next few days” before summarising the differences in performance.
Pirelli has rebuffed claims that its recent 1,000km test in Spain gave the Mercedes team, with whose 2013 vehicle and drivers the test was completed, any unfair sporting advantage over other teams. Speaking in a conference call with the press this afternoon, Motorsport director, Paul Hembery explained that the purpose of this test was to continue preliminary development for Pirelli’s potential 2014 tyres, though the manufacturer has yet to sign a deal to continue its supply. Hembery also clarified that the company has been allowed to test development tyres with available teams since March 2012, when it wrote to all the F1 teams to inform them of this position. These tests are conducted blind, meaning that only Pirelli can access the data drawn from the laps. Hembery also confirmed some details of the new tyres for use in 2013. The two new tyres are to be available for all teams to test in the Friday practice sessions in Canada, and it is anticipated that the full grid will support their introduction at Silverstone following these sessions. The tyres, Hembery said, are Pirelli technicians’ resolution to the delamination issues witnessed so far this season, and were developed in the laboratory rather than via track testing.
Pirelli will test tyres during the practice session at the Canadian grand prix, the Formula One tyre supplier has announced. While the manufacturer had previously announced its intention to supply a new tyre range in Montreal, several teams, headed by Force India, held up the switch. Pirelli is now hoping to introduce the new P Zero F1 rubber at Silverstone for the British grand prix.
Many tyre makers are involved in motorsport activities, and a racetrack presence can indeed do wonders for a brand’s public profile. Yokohama Rubber has announced its participation in a technical partnership with a difference – it recently became the first tyre manufacturer to serve as official technical partner to the popular ‘Gran Turismo’ series of motor racing video games. Yokohama lent its expertise to the latest version, Gran Turismo 6.
Yet again Formula One is awash with dark whispers about the quality of the tyres provided by Pirelli. This past weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, won in style by home favourite Fernando Alonso (Ferrari), witnessed 79 pit stops with the majority of drivers – including Alonso – opting to take four. Pirelli’s current strategy for Formula One is to produce tyres designed for two-three stops over the course of the race. Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus), who is having arguably the most impressive season so far sitting in second place in the Drivers’ Championship, was the most successful of the six drivers to remain within these guidelines, finishing second within 10 seconds of Alonso.
Yokohama will begin its 2013 UK motorsport season at Silverstone, when four different series will utilise the Japanese brand as control tyres. The first round of the new BRDC Formula 4 series will be joined by the Aerial Atom Cup, the Sports 2000 series and Caterham Graduates.
Rimstock introduced a range of Team Dynamics winter alloy wheels for the first time this season. The company has been impressed with the results, labelling the new initiative “a success” despite a mostly quite mild 2012-13 winter season. The company said it is “looking to expand the programme further for 2013”, with “two large OE marques” interested in adopting a winter programme. The programme works similarly to the trend of storing summer tyres in “tyre hotels” over winter widely used in Europe, but with take-up in the UK only occurring over the last few winters. Rimstock believes it is becoming attractive with the trying grip conditions and poor road maintenance of Britain’s winter roads, to protect original equipment wheels when temperatures drop.
Cooper Tires has launched its fifth successive year as exclusive tyre supplier to the Cooper Tires British Formula 3 Series. The company has been involved for more than 30 of the championship’s 60 years, having supplied Avon brand tyres before moving to Cooper in 2009. The tyre supplier exemplifies British F3’s calibre with the high number of drivers who have graduated to Formula One – more than any other championship. Jackie Stewart, Emerson Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet, Ayrton Senna and Mika Hakkinen have all been both British F3 and Formula One World Champions. It is also the oldest Formula 3 category in the world.
The Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), the organisation behind the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and other Le Mans series, and Le Mans Endurance Management (LMEM), have selected Michelin as official tyre supplier for the LMPC and GTC classes in the 2013 European Le Mans Series.
Exhaust manufacturer Milltek used the occasion of Autosport International to reveal the car in which its team will compete during the 2013 UK Time Attack Championship. Having won the 2012 Club Classes with a Nissan GT-R in the hands of driver Richard Marshall, the Milltek team will return to its VW Group roots with a prepared VW Golf GTI Mk6, as it goes head to head with the reigning Club Pro 2WD class champion, Bo Nielsen in his Astra VXR Coupe.
A new competition promoting fleet driver safety has been launched today in a bid to find the UK's best Company Car Driver. The ‘Fleet Driver of the Year' award starts in earnest today, with the launch of the entry website at www.fdoty.com. This unique competition is being organised by vehicle leasing company ALD Automotive, in association with Fleet World magazine, and event partners Peak Performance and Toyota & Lexus Fleet Services.
Pirelli says that the way the grid for the British Superbike Championship is shaping up, 2013 should be another competitive season. Reigning champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne will go head-to-head with the returning Ryuichi Kiyonari as title contenders, and Pirelli says that the battle will decide the most successful rider in BSB history. The Italian tyre supplier now supports Superbike, Supersport, Superstock 1000, Superstock 600, Triumph Triple Challenge and the Ducati 848 Challenge classes as sole tyre supplier, making 2013 its most committed year in the prestigious championship.
Pirelli UK has announced the winner of its Formula One Experience. The top prize of tickets to the 2013 Formula One British Grand Prix and a trip for two to the Red Bull Racing factory has been won by Ben Flynn from Warrington.
Maxxis International has aligned its brand with some of the UK’s biggest performance car shows and events in 2012, mostly in conjunction with the drifting team Team Japspeed, which it sponsors. “This season’s events have been some of the best yet, with amazing cars and bigger crowds than ever, and we are delighted with the response from what is, after all, a hugely knowledgeable and very demanding customer base,” said Maxxis International UK’s managing director Derek McMartin.
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