Yokohama HPT Starts 2010 with Environmental Theme at Autosport Show

The UK distributor for Yokohama tyres and replacement alloy wheels from TSW, MAK and Advanti, Yokohama HPT Ltd, kicked off its new year this week at the annual Autosport International show at the NEC. The company is exhibiting its full range of Yokohama high performance road and motorsport tyres, its key ranges of alloy wheels while the centrepiece of its stand is the innovative Tesla Roadster Sport, the world’s first all-electric track day car.

Yokohama itself has made a considerable contribution to minimising its impact on the global environment in recent years and it is natural for the company to partner with Tesla on this latest version of its electric sports car. The Roadster Sport is fitted with Yokohama’s ADVAN A048 road legal track day tyres, what the company believes are the closest thing to racing slicks that can be used on the public road. These give the Tesla Roadster unparalleled levels of grip and safety on both the circuit and the road.

The theme of the manufacturer’s show-stand is environment-conscious; alongside the Tesla, Yokohama is publicising its adoption of Orange Oil for its products, including those destined for road cars and used in motorsport. The FIA World Touring Car Championship, which uses Yokohama control tyres exclusively, will run on tyres made with Orange Oil. Its tyre factories in Japan have also achieved zero emission status and the company will introduce the BD Spec-E tyre later this year, developed specifically for use on hybrid vehicles.

Also being displayed is the full range of Yokohama and flagship ADVAN tyres, including the latest addition to the range, the ADVAN Neova AD08. This is designed to sit between the ADVAN A048 track day tyre and the ADVAN Sport, the flagship high performance road car tyre adopted as Original Equipment by marques such as Porsche, Audi and Mercedes AMG. It will also debut the all-new C.drive2, the latest addition to the ‘.drive’ range and an evolution of the original C.drive. The latest version places an emphasis on wet-weather traction and grip, essential for the UK climate.

The full range of replacement alloy wheels from TSW, MAK and Advanti is also on show, including two brand new additions to the TSW range, the Tribeca and the Spa. Both feature up to the minute styling with the usual quality and strength promises in a full range of sizes.

Yokohama HPT believes that the Autosport International show has become the foremost exhibition for the motorsport and aftermarket tuning industries and is the logical place for it to launch not only its latest ranges of products but to announce its motorsport plans for 2010. The brand will again be used as control tyre in the FIA World Touring Car championship, until at least the end of the 2012 season and in the UK, will again be used as control tyre for a range of motorsport series, both on the racetrack and in rallycross.

Commenting on the show, managing director of Yokohama HPT Ltd David Seward said, “Autosport traditionally sees the year begin in earnest for us and this year is no different. We are delighted to have the Tesla Roadster Sport on our stand, demonstrating Yokohama’s commitment to innovative projects and in particular, those which have a positive impact on the environment.

“This attitude stretches to many of the Yokohama products we will have at the show, including the Orange Oil technology used in the tyres and the introduction of the DB Spec-E tyres, developed specifically for hybrid vehicles such as the Toyota Prius.

“It’s also a natural time for us to debut the new alloy wheels we will have available through our dealer network and announce our motorsport plans for the season. While the Yokohama brand will be supplying control tyres to the WTCC at a global level, we at Yokohama HPT have been working hard with British motorsport organising bodies to ensure that we can continue to support the grass-roots series, which we have built a relationship with over the years.

“I am confident that 2010 will be a very busy and successful year for Yokohama, TSW, MAK and Advanti in the UK.”