Motorsport
Davanti unveils wave of new product, partnership news at first conference
Davanti marked its fifth anniversary with its first international dealer conference at the end of February. The tyre brand hosted more than 150 attendees by Everton Football Club’s Goodison Park, where it’s development director Gary Cross took the opportunity to announce its upcoming products, including range extensions and what might be called the second generation of Davanti tyres given the new naming conventions first introduced in the Wintoura winter tyre and Terratoura all-terrain 4x4 tyre ranges. Davanti sales director for UK and Ireland Sean Maddocks also presented observations on tyre markets, the development of the brand’s global dealer network over the past five years, and its commercial partnerships including the renewal of its official brand partnership with Everton FC.
Mercedes AMG F1 team producing CPAP breathing aids to help Covid-19 patients
Following government calls for automotive manufacturers to assist with ventilator production during the Covid-19 crisis, the Mercedes AMG F1 team has developed a breathing aid designed to help keep patients out of intensive care. The device was adapted by mechanical engineers at UCL and clinicians at UCLH working with Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains (Mercedes-AMG HPP) and has been approved for use in the NHS.
Goodwood Festival of Speed 2020 postponed
Goodwood took the decision to postpone the Festival of Speed until later in 2020 on 26 March, following advice received from the UK government and Public Health England. It was scheduled for 9-12 July. The organiser said that it is currently exploring potential alternative dates for late summer or early autumn, with tickets remaining valid for the new date. Several key tyre companies will await developments with interest, as Goodwood events are often employed as a platform for UK UHP and competition tyre marketing.
Giti partner WS Racing secures top-10 finish in digital endurance series
Giti Tire Motorsport partner WS Racing achieved a top ten finish in its first race of the 2020 season – the Digital Nürburgring Endurance Series. At the virtual start in the Green Hell, drivers and teams from the Nordschleife racing series competed in a four-hour race against experienced simracing and real life racing professionals. Watch the full race below.
Opening round of Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship cancelled
Protyre shares that the opening round of the 2020 Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship has been postponed owing to the coronavirus outbreak. The Legend Fires North West Stages were scheduled to take place on Saturday 20 March.
Pirelli: Australian GP cancellation a disappointing decision, but the right one
Pirelli says it “understands and fully agrees” with the decision to cancel this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix. The event was stopped after confirmation came that a member of the McLaren Racing Team has tested positive for COVID-19, leading to the team’s withdrawal. The FIA and Formula 1 convened a meeting of the other nine team principals on Thursday evening, which concluded with the majority favouring stopping proceedings.
Hankook partners with ‘world’s largest’ motorsport championship
Hankook Tire has become a sponsor of the Nürburgring Endurance Series, the race event at the renown German circuit that previously went by the name VLN Endurance Championship and billed as the largest motorsport championship in the world. The tyre maker hopes this new tie-up will be the start of a “long term partnership” with the retitled, open tyre supply motorsport series.
Pirelli bringing 2 new tyres to British GT Championship in 2020
Pirelli has served as sole tyre supplier to the British GT Championship since 2016 and has announced its return for a fifth season in 2020 – with a pair of new-spec tyres. Competitors in the GT3 category will race on the Pirelli P Zero DHE tyre this season, a product that replaces the prior-generation DHD2. Cars in the slightly less powerful GT4 category will wear another new tyre, the Pirelli P Zero DHB, successor to the DH.
Coronavirus: FIA evaluating upcoming race calendar
The Chinese Grand Prix and Sanya E-Prix have already been postponed, now the FIA is preparing race fans for the possibility of further events being called off should the coronavirus continue to spread. In a statement published yesterday, the FIA said it is “closely monitoring the evolving situation” with relevant authorities and its member clubs, under the direction of FIA Medical Commission president, Professor Gérard Saillant.
Dunlop extends MXGP World Championship support
The promoter of the FIM MXGP World Championship has extended its partnership with Dunlop. Infront Moto Racing has signed the tyre brand up to a new three-year partnership agreement to be an official tyre supplier of the series.
Cooper Tire Europe supplying BTRDA Clubmans Rallycross Championship
Under a new three-year agreement, Cooper Tire Europe will supply its rallycross tyres to the BTRDA Clubmans Rallycross Championship. While all six of the championship’s competitive categories remain open to all tyre suppliers in 2020, this will change in 2021 and 2022 with Cooper becoming the exclusive tyre range for the ‘Production 4x4’, ‘Production’ and ‘Junior’ categories. The championship’s formal name also changes this season to the BTRDA Clubmans Rallycross Championship Presented by Cooper Tires.
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.