Yokohama introduces new rally tyre to the UK
Yokohama HPT has announced a new motorsport tyre for the UK. The Yokohama A053 is a brand new gravel rally tyre, developed during the 2010 season as the manufacturer partnered the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. The A053 is designed to compliment the A035, featuring a completely new construction and tread pattern. Designed for all loose surface applications, it will be available in three compounds; super soft, soft and medium to cope with the widest range of gravel stage conditions. The A053 will replace both sizes of the preceding A035E, in 195 and 205 widths.
Continue ReadingYokohama HPT Introduces A005 Radial Tyre for UK’s Sports2000 Series
The UK distributor for Yokohama tyres, Yokohama HPT, has announced the introduction of a new specification race tyre to the UK. The A005, developed for the Sports2000 race series, replaces the now discontinued bias tyre used by the series. Sports2000 has exclusively used Yokohama tyres, supplied by George Polley Motorsport, for 25 years, up to and including 2010. The series is based on sports prototype-style single seaters, using either the Ford Pinto or Duratec engine and its value and fun-conscious approach means huge grids every season.
Continue ReadingMaxxis to Sponsor Team Japspeed
In addition to its role as title sponsor of the Maxxis British Drift Championship, tyre manufacturer Maxxis International has announced its sponsorship of Team Japspeed. The deal will continue a successful relationship that began in 2009, in which driver Steve Biagioni won the British Drift Championship using the Maxxis MA-Z1 Drift tyre.
Continue ReadingDucati 848 Challenge Joins Pirelli in British Superbike Partnership
Pirelli has announced that it will fit its Diablo Supercorsa tyres to the Ducati 848 Evo in the Ducati 848 Challenge – a new official partner of the MCE British Superbike Series 2011. Ducati is a long-time partner of Pirelli, with “an exclusive 100 per cent original equipment fitment deal.” Pirelli also recently agreed terms with the British Superbike and Supersport classes for sole tyre supply until 2015. The 848 Challenge will visit five British Superbike rounds and also go on tour to Monza and Assen. The Diablo Supercorsa has “broken numerous records in this year’s British and World Supersport Championships,” says Pirelli. Full 848 Challenge Series listings can be found below.
Continue ReadingFalken Selects Porsche 911 GT3 R for 2011 24-Hr Nürburgring
Long time participant in the Nürburgring 24 Hour race, the Falken Motorsport Team has decided to run a GT3 R specification Porsche 911 on 25-26 June. The high performance tyre manufacturer says its decision to switch to the Porsche follows a successful history of campaigning Japanese sports cars in the ADAC Zurich 24-Hour Race and ties in with increasing activity of the brand in the region. Falken says the race “will be used to develop the next generation of Falken tyres.”
Continue ReadingMaxxis Sponsors 2011 British Drift Championship
Maxis has announced that it will continue its title sponsorship of the British Drift Championship in the 2011 series. The brand’s purpose-designed MA-Z1 Drift tyres will once again be used in the championship, having scored numerous wins and podium places. Maxxis International says it aims to build on these achievements this year, which gets underway with the meeting at Donington Park on 22-23 April. “Since we began our association with the British Drift Championship in 2009 it has really moved on, enhancing its standing within the drift world as it successfully established itself as a vehicle for the best in multi-class drifting throughout Britain,” says Maxxis International UK’s managing director Derek McMartin.
Continue ReadingFoj Completes 20th Dakar Race with Toyota Cooper Tires Team
Xavier Foj is one of the most experienced Dakar racers with this year marking is twentieth time, as he and co-driver Pablo Jaton steered their Cooper Tires-shod Toyota Land Cruiser safely through what Foj called “almost unbearable” conditions. The Toyota Cooper Tires team’s lead vehicle claimed 19th position overall in this year’s gruelling Dakar race.
Continue ReadingDTM to Form “Core” of Hankook Motorsport Activities
When this year’s DTM touring car masters’ series gets underway at Germany’s Hockenheimring on May 1 the competing cars will take to the track on Hankook tyres. The Korean tyre maker confirms it has signed an agreement to take over from Dunlop as exclusive tyre supplier to the series for a three-year period.
Continue ReadingPirelli Extends Italian Speed Championship Tyre Supply
Pirelli reports that its Diablo Supercorsa SC will be the tyre used in both the Stock 600 and Stock 1000 classes of the Campionato Italiano Velocità – CIV (Italian Speed Championship) as of this year. After a season as exclusive tyre supplier to the Stock 1000 class, Pirelli has been selected as the Federazione Motociclistica Italiana’s partner for the Stock 600 class in the 2011 and 2012 season and has been confirmed as continued supplier for the Stock 1000 class. Pirelli will supply the 90 riders competing in the CIV this and next year with three 17-inch fitments of its Diablo Supercorsa SC in two compounds for the front and rear.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Remains Tight Lipped on Firestone IndyCar Plans
In light of rumours regarding Firestone’s departure from motorsport, Bridgestone Americas has released a statement explaining its position, yet the tyre maker’s official words clarify little. Speculation that Bridgestone will dump the IndyCar Series after the 2011 season has existed after it failed to renew its tyre supply contract before the December 31 deadline.
Continue ReadingCooper Extends Dakar Rally Involvement
Cooper Tire has developed an online game to celebrate its expanded involvement in the Dakar Rally 2011. Cooper Tire has doubled its backing of the Toyota Cooper Tire squad for the 2011 running of the event, with the Land Cruiser KXR of Xavier Foj and Pablo Jaton joined by a Hi-Lux, piloted by Jesus Calleja and Ignacio Santamaria. Last year, the single car of Foj/Jaton finished second in the T2 Production class.
Continue ReadingChanges to F1, GT1 Tyre Rules Confirmed
Proposed changes to Formula One and GT1 World Championship were confirmed at this year’s final meeting of the World Motor Sport Council (WSMC), which took place in Monaco on December 10. The WSMC has approved the re-introduction of intermediate tyres into Formula One for 2011, along with the imposition of penalties upon any driver who fails to use both specification of dry weather tyre during a race. Changes for GT1 include an increase in the number of dry weather tyres to six sets (of which only four are permitted for qualifying and the races). The intention of this change is to allow teams to use tyres to their maximum capacity during practice, reducing the necessity to incur additional costs in private testing.
Continue ReadingCooper Tire Agrees British Formula 3 Extension
Cooper Tire will continue as the official control tyre supplier and title sponsor of the prestigious British F3 International Series until at least the end of the 2014 season. Cooper took over the supply and sponsorship of British F3 in 2009 from its Avon Tyres brand, which had previously been sole supplier to the series for 27 years, and now supplies the British GT Championship. The Cooper Tire British F3 International Series is widely acknowledged as one of the toughest domestic single-seater championships in the world and is a recognised route to the pinnacle of the sport for aspiring Formula 1 drivers, having produced 2009 FIA F1 World champion Jenson Button, and current F1 drivers Mark Webber, Rubens Barrichello, 2008 British F3 champion Jaime Algersuari, and newly signed Sauber driver and 2007 National Class champion Sergio Perez.
Continue ReadingCooper Tire Expands Dakar Rally Assault for 2011
Cooper Tire will back an expanded team in the 2011 Dakar Rally as it aims to go one better than its debut attempt in the 2010 event. The Toyota Cooper Tire outfit finished second in the T2 Diesel class and 16th overall this January, but veteran Dakar pilot, Xavier Foj, is aiming to take the class victory in 2011. Spaniard Foj and his co-driver, Pablo Jaton, will once again compete for the team in a Toyota Land Cruiser KXR and they will be joined by a second duo – Spanish TV personality Jesus Calleja and co-driver, Ignacio Santamaria.
Continue ReadingAvon Signs Up to 3 More Years with British GT
Since Avon Tyres began supplying control tyres to the British GT Championship in 2006 drivers have clocked up some 200,000 racing miles on its products. Now they’ll have the chance to add a few more miles to the tally following the signing of an agreement to extend the tyre maker’s title sponsorship and control tyre supply until the end of the 2014 season. Avon’s first outing under the new agreement will be at Oulton Park on April 23 to 25 next year.
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