Motorsport
Dunlop takes over from Bridgestone as Saroléa technical partner
After four years of partnership with Bridgestone, Belgian motorcycle brand Saroléa has now selected Dunlop as a technical partner for its Saroléa SP7 electric racing motorcycle. Dunlop comments that the change of technical partner accompanies yesterday’s announcement of the next goal for Saroléa, which is to be recognised as a candidate for future Le Mans 24h and FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) competition and thus directly compete with the most powerful petrol-powered EWC machines. The switch, adds Dunlop, was a move Saroléa made “to help achieve this goal.”
TerraClean-backed racing stars make strong starts to season
Engine decarbonising brand TerraClean saw its two sponsored driving stars make a positive start to their respective 2018 campaigns at the weekend, in both the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) and Renault UK Clio Cup races, held at Brands Hatch.
Dunlop Sport Maxx Race 2 approved by Porsche for new 911 GT3 RS
The new Dunlop Sport Maxx Race 2 has been approved by Porsche as original equipment for the new 911 GT3 RS. The tyre brand will supply sizes 265/35ZR20 (99Y) XL and 325/30ZR21 (108Y) XL to Porsche, both tyres carrying the N1 marking to indicate Porsche homologation.
Giti Tire goes European with Fun Cup UK
Giti Tire has extended its Official Tyre Partnership with the VW Fun Cup into a third season. The tyre manufacturer’s fully livered GT Radial racing car will also make its European debut when the series travels to Circuit Zandvoort in Holland, marking the first time the company has both supplied tyres and raced a car from the series outside the UK. The calendar also features three and four-hour races at Oulton Park, Anglesey, Snetterton, Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Donnington Park, in a series totalling nine rounds.
Cooper Tire ready for new World RX regulations
For the fifth consecutive season, Cooper Tire Europe is the official tyre supplier and associate partner to the FIA World Rallycross Championship, supplying bespoke World RX tyres to all teams.
Connected rally solution joins Michelin’s motorsports portfolio
Only recently, Michelin unveiled its first connected tyre solution that amateur driving enthusiasts can go out and buy for their cars. This is Track Connect, a system compatible with the newly-launched Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect tyre and now on sale in several European markets. A dedicated competition version has also been developed – the tyre maker calls it Michelin Motorsport Connect, and this solution will be introduced at the next rounds of the French Rally Championship between 13 and 15 April. Michelin Motorsport Connect will then initially be released in France, with prices starting at 400 euros, before being introduced elsewhere in Europe and the rest of the world.
Falken drift driver James Deane returns to defend Formula Drift title
Falken drift driver and 2017 Formula Drift champion James Deane returns to the defend his title crown this week at the opening round of Formula Drift (6-7 April 2018, Long Beach, California). The Irish driver will race for the Worthouse Drift Team in his Falken Tire Nissan S15 drift car. He steered the car to four victories during the 2017 season, which led to his championship title and Falken being named Tire Manufacturer Champion for the second consecutive year.
History-making Team BRIT receives Giti tyre test coaching at Mira
Team BRIT has spent a day receiving coaching from key sponsor Giti Tire’s test engineers at leading UK research and development facility, Horiba Mira. The team aims to become the first ever all-disabled team to compete in the Le Mans 24 hour race with its revolutionary use of adaptive technology.
Yokohama announces 2018 motorsports programme
The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has announced its plans for supporting motorsport events in 2018.
Daniel Lloyd secures victories in successful start to Yokohama-supported TCR UK series
Daniel Lloyd claimed victories in both opening rounds of the inaugural TCR UK Series at Silverstone. In changeable conditions, series tyre supplier Yokohama said it was happy with the performance of its A005 slick and A006 wet tyres.
Absolute Alignment supports BTCC, British GT teams
Garage equipment distributor Absolute Alignment has announced two partnerships with UK race teams in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) and British GT Championship. The company has become an Official Technical Partner to Power Maxed Racing in the BTCC, and will be supporting Academy Motorsport’s Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4 entries in British GT.
Yokohama-supported TCR UK series to commence at Silverstone
Easter weekend will welcome a new touring car racing series to UK circuits. Having launched the partnership on its stand at Autosport International 2018 in January, TCR UK will begin at Silverstone with all competitors pushing their cars to the limit on Yokohama tyres.
BSB: Pirelli introduces new front slick
After a dramatic final round in 2017 saw a three-way battle and Shane Byrne claim his sixth British Superbike Championship title, this season’s competition is getting under way at Donington Park over the Easter weekend. Pirelli will be there too, supplying the massive Superbike and support class field for an eleventh consecutive season.
Adding a splash of colour to BTCC race weekends in 60th Anniversary year
Dunlop has partnered with contemporary British automotive artist Ian Cook of Popbangcolour to produce a special series of BTCC paintings that celebrate 60 years of touring car racing. The artwork is being created in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.
Giti Tire debuts as Mini Challenge Asia tyre supplier
The pre-season round of the new Mini Challenge Asia series took place at the Zhuhai International Circuit in China on 17-18 March, with all entrants racing on Giti rubber. Giti Tire says it is “excited to be taking a new step forward as the official tyre” of 2018 Mini Challenge Asia, and it is supplying GitiCompete GRT1 tyres to each of the John Cooper Works Mini F56 cars racing in the China-based series. The official opening round will take place at the Zhuhai International Circuit on 16-17 June 2018.