Motorsport
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.
Cooper Tires exclusive for 2020 British Rallycross Championship
Cooper Tires has been confirmed as exclusive tyre supplier for Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship. It takes over in this capacity from Toyo Tires, and as such from 2020 the championship will be known as the Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy Presented by Cooper Tires.
Giti Tire returns as F3 Asia tyre supplier
Giti Tire is returning in 2020 as the exclusive tyre provider and brand in the Formula 3 Asian Championship Series, a top-level formula competition of young racing leaders from around the world. Next year’s race calendar includes Giti’s international motorsports racing debut in the Middle East, with races featured on 10-11 January in Dubai and 17-18 January in Abu Dhabi.
Pirelli: WRC tyre supply confirms “leadership in world motorsport”
The era of Michelin tyres dominating the World Rally Championship (WRC) is drawing to a close. The FIA has chosen Pirelli as sole tyre supplier for the WRC from 2021 to 2024. With its selection, Pirelli sees itself at “the top of motorsport” thanks to its exclusive tyre supply to both the leading rally and single seater racing championships. “These successful campaigns confirm Pirelli’s leadership in world motorsport,” comments the tyre maker.
Goodyear official WTCR tyre supplier from 2020
As of next season, Goodyear will take over from Yokohama as official tyre supplier to the WTCR - FIA World Touring Car Cup. Following an official FIA tender, Goodyear will partner with the series for the three years covering the 2020-2022 seasons.
Goodyear exclusive tyre partner for top Dakar Rally teams
Goodyear will be the official tyre supplier to two top teams in the upcoming Dakar Rally. The rally returns to its roots in the desert on 5 January in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and the shift to a new continent presents new challenges to tyre suppliers, drivers and vehicles. The 2020 rally will run over sand dunes, rocky canyons and wadis or dry riverbeds, all on standard truck tyres. Goodyear has a strong record on the rally in recent years, with Petronas De Rooy Iveco occupying podium places, including two first places, with Goodyear as their tyre and development partner.