Yokohama Win WTCC Contract

Yokohama Rubber has been appointed as the official tyre supplier to the World Touring Car Championship. The manufacturer will replace Michelin for the 2006 season.

The company will also supply the control tyre for the first FIA European Touring Car Cup to be held this October at the Vallelunga circuit in Italy.

“This appointment is a great honour to our company,” marketing manager of Yokohama Europe Kazuyoshi Sekiguchi said. “We feel very proud for being involved with such a high-profile and professional championship.

“In Japan our technicians are already working hard on the new 17 inch tyres for the 2006 FIA WTCC. We are taking it very seriously, and our plan is to start testing as soon as possible in order to evaluate different solutions before selecting the control tyre for the next season.

“This is not an easy task, because the final tyre has to be an ideal compromise between speed and durability, it has to suit all the different kinds of racetracks and it has to ensure equal performances to both, the rear and the front wheel drive cars.”