Motorsport
Liqui Moly becomes main sponsor of Moto2 team
Liqui Moly has strengthened its commitment to IntactGP and become main sponsor of the Moto2 racing team from the Allgäu region. Next year, the team will compete in the Motorcycle World Championship as “Liqui Moly IntactGP”. “We are expanding the successful cooperation and increasing the visibility of our brand,” says Ernst Prost, managing director of Liqui Moly.
Dunlop to tackle new challenge at 1st EWC 8 Hours of Sepang
Following a successful Bol d’Or 24hr, Dunlop heads to the inaugural 2019-20 FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) 8 Hours of Sepang. Dunlop showed the adaptability and consistency of its tyre range in tricky weather conditions at the Bol d’Or 24hr as Team Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (SERT) took top honours. The manufacturer says the Sepang International Circuit will pose a new test for all 20 bikes utilising Dunlop tyres, with sweeping corners and wide straights, including a 927 metre back straight, at the 5.5km circuit.
Yokohama celebrates season of motorsport successes
Despite the end of the 2019 motorsport season being in sight, Yokohama’s motorsport team is continuing to supply tyres to competitors around the world who are closing in on a number of championship titles.
Drifting and endurance the twin pillars of Falken Motorsports success in 2019
From endurance racing and drifting to desert rallies, Falken Tyres has seen success in varied motorsport disciplines this season. The brand celebrated top-ten finishes in its 20th year at the Nürburgring 24-hour race and on the Peking to Paris Rally, while the season’s crowning glory has been drift driver James Deane’s double title win.
Evergreen’s Dan Zelos completes Mini adventure in triumph
Dan Zelos’ switch to the Mini Challenge series proved to be a masterstroke in 2019 as the Dereham Dynamo lifted the Rookie Cup. The rising star - in his sixth year as an Evergreen Tyres athlete - went into the final race at his home track at Snetterton with a mathematical shot at the overall title. And while the convoluted series of circumstances required to carry him to the overall championship for the MINI UK VIP team didn’t quite come to pass, the rookie title ensured the season ended as a hugely successful one for the series debutant.
Cooper Tire Europe launches full rally tyre range
Cooper Tire Europe has launched an extensive new rally tyre range. Developed and manufactured by Cooper Tire Europe, the new range covers tarmac, classic tarmac, gravel and mud and snow (M+S) applications. The manufacturer states that the range is designed to provide ultra-high performance and reliability across numerous applications and levels of rallying competition.
Hankook becomes new DTM Trophy series tyre partner
Hankook has extended its partnership with European touring cars, with another partnership with a promising new racing series. The new DTM Trophy will run on the Ventus Race tyre, with on-site support from the tyre manufacturer from the 2020 season. Hankook has signed a four-year contract with DTM umbrella organisation ITR, which will promote the new GT series. The new series will run as part of the support programme at seven rounds of the popular DTM series, which Hankook has supported as exclusive tyre partner since 2011.
Hamilton finishes emphatic F1 season as Pirelli turns to testing at Yas Marina
Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton won the final grand prix of the 2019 season with a one-stop medium-hard strategy. Red Bull's Max Verstappen in second used the same strategy at Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi, but the third-placed Ferrari of Charles Leclerc added a final soft stint to his medium-hard run plan, taking advantage of the red tyre's extra speed in the crucial closing stages of the race. Hamilton never lost the lead after gaining pole position in qualifying. He completed a hat-trick with a fastest lap on the hard tyre, which broke a lap record at Yas Marina that had stood since 2009.
TOCA confirms 2020 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship entries
Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship series organiser TOCA has confirmed 30 entries – the maximum number of TOCA BTCC Licences (TBLs) held by teams – for the 2020 season.
Jemma Moore becomes youngest-ever GT4 South European Series winner
Tockwith Motorsports’ (TMS) Jemma Moore became the youngest-ever winner in the GT4 South European Series after securing victory in her Trico-liveried Ginetta G50 at a rain-swept Estoril, the final round of the 2019 season.
Textar powers Newell & Wright to third place in truck racing finale
Textar sponsored Newell & Wright Motorsport achieved third place in the British Truck Racing Championship Division One. In the season-ending Brands Hatch meet, driver John Newell battled all weathers to finish ahead of his rival and consolidate third place.
How Ricardo contributed to JCB’s world speed record-breaking tractor
JCB set the British Record for the fastest modified tractor at Elvington Airfield near York in June 2019 in a tractor designated ‘Fastrac One.’ It reached a speed of 103.6 mph with motorbike racer, lorry mechanic and TV personality Guy Martin in the driver’s seat. JCB then embarked on an ambitious plan to break its own record and developed ‘Fastrac Two’ – which was 10 per cent lighter, more powerful and even more aerodynamic. Also driven by Guy Martin, Fastrac Two hit a peak speed of 153.771mph on its way to clocking a record average of 135.191mph.
Goodyear returns to German motorsport in 2020
Goodyear will accelerate the development of its motorsport programme in 2020 in several German race series. Following a period away from the top level of sport, the tyre brand will build on its long and successful racing history at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, where Goodyear will equip numerous teams in the VLN Endurance Championship and the 24h Race. Its racing tyres will also be used in the two racing series DMV GT and Touring Car Cup (DMV GTC) as well as the DMV National Endurance Series 500 (DMV NES 500).
Vipal Rubber visits TCR Europe in Barcelona
Vipal recently took a group of customers to experience the TCR Europe – Touring Car Series Barcelona race thrills and learn more about their partnership.
Pirelli returns to Formula 3 at Macau Grand Prix
Pirelli will return to Formula 3 when it supplies tyres to the new-look FIA Formula 3 World Cup alongside the fifth running of the FIA GT World Cup at the Macau Grand Prix. This is the second time that Pirelli has supplied the world’s most prestigious Formula 3 race after the Italian firm made its debut in the category in 2016.