Motorsport
Goodyear tyre supplier to Pure ETCR all-electric touring car series
The motorsport calendar now includes an all-new event – the world’s first all-electric, multi-brand touring car championship. Pure ETCR vehicles will be equipped with a Williams Advanced Engineering battery unit and a 500kW Magelec Propulsion powertrain – the equivalent of a staggering 680bhp – that drives the rear wheels and enables 0 to 100km/h acceleration in just 3.2 seconds. This torquey power will be delivered to the racetrack via products supplied by one of Pure ETCR’s founder partners – Goodyear.
Giti to support new evening track programme at MotoFest Coventry 2020
Giti Tire has extended its support of MotoFest Coventry with an evening circuit programme for the first time. The main GT Radial sprint circuit will host a full track programme on the Saturday night, including a dynamic display of wheel to wheel motorsport from teams involved in the VW Fun Cup UK series.
Falken doubles up on Porsches for 2020 Nürburgring Endurance Series, N24
Falken will run a pair of the latest specification GT3 Porsche 911 GT3 R cars in both the Nürburgring Endurance Series (formerly known as the VLN) and the Nürburgring 24h race in 2020. The Falken Motorsports race team, run by Schnabl Engineering for the tenth consecutive year, has ordered a new 991.2 chassis to run alongside its 2019 Porsche. Both cars will be identical in specification.
Pirelli to show off 2021 WRC tyre this weekend
The very first public appearance of a Pirelli tyre for the 2021 World Rally Championship (WRC) will take place at the 2020 GP Ice Race this weekend. During the event, Pirelli will display will a Sweden-specification studded Sottozero Ice J1 tyre in 205/65 R15 size. This tyre will be one of several used by WRC cars from next season.
Sterling Automotive Design makes Davanti official tyre partner
Vehicle customiser Sterling Automotive Design has signed a new partnership with Davanti Tyres. Blackburn-based Sterling is a new design house specialising in reimagining iconic vehicles with British style. Their work includes bespoke full-vehicle, premium customisations and lighter-touch enhancements to external bodywork or upholstery. Sterling brand director Doug Topott said fellow British brand Davanti shares “a similar ethos” to the company.
Giti Tire all-female VLN, French drifting success cap ‘busiest motorsport year’
Giti Tire’s “busiest year-to-date in European motorsport” was capped by two victories by Giti and GT Radial sponsored partners. The all-female racing team, ‘Girls Only – Ready to Rock the Green Hell’, recorded their first ever class win in the ninth and last race of the VLN Langstreckenmeisterschaft in their VW Golf VII GTI TCR. Meanwhile Benjamin Boulbes became a six-time French Drift Championship winner on GT Radial tyres.
Kamaz-master wins at Dakar 2020 on standard Goodyear tyres
Kamaz-Master has notched up yet another Dakar victory. Last Friday, the team finished in first and second place in the Dakar 2020 after 12 challenging stages, winning the famous rally for the 17th time. As official tyre partner to Kamaz-Master, Goodyear is particularly pleased with the result.
Premiere for ‘Falken film’ today
Start making the popcorn – a new film from Falken Tyres is about to debut. Called ’20 Years, 20 Stories’, the film covers the brand’s 20th-anniversary celebration at the 24 Hours Nürburgring last year and shares the experience of the legendary race as told by 24 people before, during and after the event.
Sailun becomes partner, tyre supplier to D1GP
On 11 January, Sailun Tire and production car drifting series D1 Grand Prix (D1GP) signed their official partnership for the 2020 season, solidifying Sailun as an official strategic partner and tyre supplier for what many consider to be the world’s top international drifting event.
Cooper Tire: We want to make British Rallycross the best in the world
Just before Christmas, Motorsport UK announced it had selected Cooper Tire Europe as exclusive tyre supplier for the coming three British Rallycross Championship seasons, and as such is renaming the championship the Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy Presented by Cooper Tires. The tyre maker says it is “excited” to extend its motorsport supply portfolio.
Michelin unveils latest MotoGP tyre
Following months of testing, Michelin has introduced a new construction rear tyre for the upcoming MotoGP season. This latest evolution of the Michelin Power Slick rear tyre features a construction aimed at improving lap times through an increase in performance and stability. Following in-house testing, MotoGP riders were given their first taste of the tyre at the Catalunya test at Barcelona in June.
Yokohama unveils Harper Adams partnership at Autosport 2020
Yokohama has marked its 30th Autosport International show with a number of new partnerships in motorsport. In rallying, the tyre manufacturer has extended its support for grass roots and developing drivers in a new partnership with Harper Adams Motorsport Team.
Reigning BRC champions unveil Yuasa sponsorship and new car on Pirelli stand
Yuasa has announced that the battery brand has become title sponsor of rally driver Matt Edwards and co-driver Darren Garrod, with the unveiling of a new car and livery on the Pirelli stand at Autosport International. The move sees the Yuasa Rally Team name enter the sport for the first time as the title sponsor of M-Sport’s BRC operation. The team will tackle stages across the UK, Ireland and Belgium in the all-new Ford Fiesta R5 MkII carrying Yuasa’s distinctive red, white and black livery, made popular in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC).
Ssangyong Motorsport fits Yokohama Geolandar on 2020 Dakar Rally
Yokohama’s Geolandar M/T G003 tyres for SUVs and pickup trucks will be fitted to the Korando DKR driven by Oscar Fuertes Aldanondo and Diego Vallejo for Ssangyong Motorsport/Sodicars Racing on the 2020 Dakar Rally (5-17 January). The same car and drivers came in third in the T1.3 petrol 2-wheel drive class in the January 2019 event, and will take on competition in the same class this year.
Dave Thorpe opts for ‘amazing’ Bridgestone tyres
Bridgestone’s position within the motocross tyre segment has been strengthened by its selection by Britain’s most decorated rider of all time, who labelled the range as “amazing”. In what Bridgestone describes as a “huge breakthrough”, the brand will be fitted to all bikes at Dave Thorpe’s Honda Off-Road Centre as well as to each bike at his Honda Adventure Centre.