As of 2018, aluminium wheel manufacturer CITIC Dicastal will begin supplying rims to the Williams Martini Racing F1 team, making it the first Chinese manufacturer to produce any component for a Formula 1 racing car. Wang Jiong, vice-president of the Citic Group, told Xinhua News Agency that this cooperation not only means a huge step for Dicastal, but is also of great significance for China’s manufacturing sector.
Lewis Hamilton’s victory at the British Grand Prix was inspired by an early pit stop to fit Pirelli’s Cinturato wet tyres, having conceded pole position to his Williams rivals at the start. Mercedes made the right strategy call a second time, when Hamilton was brought in for his second stop (for intermediates) just as proper rain hit the end of the grand prix.
Williams Martini Racing has announced that British racing driver Alex Lynn will be joining the team as development driver for the 2015 Formula One World Championship season.
More than 200 motorsport industry guests gathered at the world-famous Williams Formula One HQ recently, for a special evening with motorsport legend Ross Brawn OBE. The evening resulted in more than £2,500 being raised to support a brighter future for motorsport in the UK.
The Trust My Garage Charity Challenge teams, the Northern Numpties and the Southern Softies have raised the impressive sum of £8,500 for the automotive charity BEN.
The challenge, which was to visit the most TMG members using a route planned by using only the TMG website, was won by the Southern Softies who visited 85 garages during the four day event.
Pirelli, the 11 Formula One teams and the FIA have agreed the schedule of the new dedicated tyre testing days (one per team) that each team will undertake within the existing 2014 in-season test calendar. Caterham, Mercedes and Williams will test in Bahrain; Sauber, Toro Rosso, McLaren and Force India in Barcelona; and Ferrari, Lotus, Red Bull and Marussia at Silverstone.
Following the conclusion of Formula Ones three preseason tests in Bahrain, Pirelli has stated that the characteristics of the 2014 P Zero tyre range were in line with expectations, maintaining similar performance to last year but with less degradation. Pirelli said there had been no blistering and very little graining, while also claiming a reduction in tread wear levels. The results of the final test also showed an increased performance gap between both the hard and the medium compound, and the medium and the soft compound: the two combinations of tyres that will be used at the first four races. Pirelli said this would give plenty of scope for the teams to formulate interesting strategies to boost their race prospects.
A motorist who claimed to have taken so much Viagra he could not leave the house was just one of a number of excuses from people who failed to tax their car.
According to information released by DVLA, motorists caught for not having a tax disc last year used a variety of excuses, which included "My mate said that if the cost of the tax is more than what the car's worth you haven't got to pay it."
One motorist claimed to have fallen out of a tree while fruit picking and broke both arms so they could not fill in the necessary forms, while one motorist even blamed their mobile phone.
A top priority for any fleet manager is safety. Recognising this, Days Contract Hire has teamed up with Michelin to give away Michelin safety kits worth £50 each to its fleet drivers, their friends and family members when they purchase two or more Michelin car, van or 4×4 tyres this year.
Kent Police is appealing for witnesses to a knifepoint robbery of about 1,500 tyres from two HGV lorries near the Dartford River Crossing. Officers were called just before 7.15am on 8 April after Pirelli brand tyres, worth a combined total of about £100,000, were stolen from two artic lorries. Neither driver was injured in the robbery.
UK prestige pen manufacturer Sheaffer has added the Ferrari name to a new line of products for the first time. The iconic Italian brand was unveiled on four new Sheaffer pen models, which all include the Scuderia Ferrari Shield. The new collection features: the Ferrari VFM, the Ferrari 100, 300 and 500, all with the Scuderia Ferrari name engraved on the band, along with the Sheaffer White Dot symbol of prestige.
Following Jarno Trulli’s less than complimentary assessment of the current Pirelli Formula One tyre (see link below), Williams technical director Sam Michael has countered that “from a time period point of view, Pirelli have done a fantastic job.” Michael pointed out the continuing development Pirelli is completing and the fact that the inevitable differences in the tyre is a challenge the teams will need to engage with, since the change of supplier at the end of the 2010 season.
Privately owned multi-service transport organisation Clarke’s Transport has selected the Bandvulc range of tyres as policy fitment for its fleet operation. The arrangement sees the Clarke’s fleet using AC Tyres based in Oldham to manage and provide fleet support to its Northern based vehicles. AC Tyres is a certified member of Bandvulc Tyre Contracts’ Service Provider Recognition Scheme and a key partner for Bandvulc.
Maxxis has extended its sport sponsorship through its signing of a two-year deal to sponsor the Australian Open, the largest sports event in the southern hemisphere and the first of the annual Grand Slam tennis tournaments. In addition to being an official sponsor of the first Grand Slam event of the calendar year, Maxxis will be the official tyre of the Australian Open, which next takes place in Melbourne from January 17 to 30, 2011.
Two members of BITS are celebrating after being presented with specially engraved watches to celebrate over 25 years of service with the company. Paul Williams (left) was previously with Firestone and is now a sales manager covering the North East and Wales. Andy Lawson (right) joined the BITS team as an office junior and has risen to his present position as manager of the busy Burton centre. These long service presentations are regular features for the BITS team recognising a unique record of industry leading technical advice and customer service.
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