Pirelli prepares for 2024 with F1 tyre test following season-closing Abu Dhabi grand prix
The competition between the Formula 1 drivers and constructors has been all but over for most of the second half of the 2023 season as Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez and Red Bull dominated from the start. Preparations for 2024 will commence in earnest moments after the chequered flag signifies the end of the Abu Dhabi grand prix, as the teams proceed immediately to testing at Yas Marina. Exclusive tyre supplier Pirelli will supply a predetermined allocation of compounds to teams, which will run two cars, for testing on the Tuesday following the weekend’s grand prix action. The five compounds will remain the same as in 2023, though the hardest C0 compound will be dropped altogether from Pirelli’s F1 tyre line-up.
Continue ReadingPirelli P Zero tyres help Marciello to unique 2nd Macau GT victory
Pirelli’s return to the Macau GT event saw the tyre manufacturer support reigning GT World Challenge Europe champion Raffaele Marciello bringing his AMG-Mercedes career to an end with his second victory at the FIA GT World Cup. In doing so, he became the only driver to win the event twice, both times using Pirelli rubber. The 70th edition of the Macau GT took place on the same weekend Pirelli was supporting Formula 1 at the Las Vegas night race and the World Rally Championship’s closing round of 2023 at Rally Japan. The GT season continues at the Gulf 12 Hours in Abu Dhabi on 10 December: part of the 350 motorsport competitions that Pirelli contests each year.
Continue ReadingFilipe Albuquerque wins Goodyear Wingfoot Award, Albert Costa top in Bahrain
In the FIA World Endurance Championship’s final round in Bahrain, Goodyear crowned Filipe Albuquerque its 2023 Wingfoot Award. The United Autosports driver narrowly beat Robert Kubica to the overall season award, which recognises the consistent performance of Goodyear drivers in the series. Meanwhile, Albert Costa took the top Wingfoot Award prize for the 8 Hours of Bahrain, with a stint average lap time of 1:56.96, 0.172 quicker than Albuquerque. The Wingfoot Award is designed to celebrate the art of maximising performance and executing a consistent pace.
Continue ReadingFormula 1: Pirelli says Las Vegas offers ‘major technical challenge’ for teams, tyres
Formula 1 returns to the USA for the third time in Las Vegas, the series’ first visit to the city since 1982. Tyre supplier Pirelli described the return as a “major technical challenge” – often the case when taking on a new track. The Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend in Nevada will use C3 as P Zero White hard, C4 as P Zero Yellow medium and C5 as P Zero Red soft, the softest selection of tyres in the manufacturer’s F1 range. Mario Isola, Pirelli head of motorsport, said “all the elements are in place for an extraordinary race,” previewing the weekend ahead.
Continue ReadingRally Japan to close ‘spectacular’ World Rally Championship 2023 season – Pirelli
Tyre supplier Pirelli is expecting a “heartfelt and hard-fought race” as well as an interesting event “from a technical point of view” at the eighth edition of Rally Japan (16-19 November), which ends the World Rally Championship season. Pirelli will supply the P Zero Hard as the prime tyre, with the P Zero Soft and Cinturato Wet also available to teams.
Continue ReadingYokohama Advan tyres propel JLOC Lamborghini to GT300 victory in Japanese touring car series
Yokohama’s Advan tyres helped the JLOC Lamborghini GT3, driven by Takashi Kogure and Yuya Motojima, win the GT300 class in the final race, Round 8 of the 2023 Autobacs Super GT Series, held at Mobility Resort Motegi in Tochigi Prefecture on 4 and 5 November, 2023. In Japan’s premier touring car racing series., many teams in the GT300 class equipped their cars with Advan racing tyres this year. These cars won four out of eight races.
Continue ReadingPirelli returns to the Macau Grand Prix
Pirelli returns to the Macau Grand Prix this weekend, as the winner of a multi-year tender to supply the FIA GT World Cup, with the Italian firm also supplying tyres for the Formula 3 World Cup.
Continue ReadingMongrip and Keep Fighting Foundation make bracelet from Schumacher F1 tyre
Roughly four years after Mongrip made jewellery out of some of late F1 star Ayrton Senna’s tyres, the company has partnered with the Keep Fighting Foundation to make a new collection of limited edition bracelets made from some of Michael Schumacher’s F1 tyres. Specifically, the bracelets are being made out of legendary 1996 Monza GP tyres in a bid to pay homage to “the extraordinary seven-time Formula 1 World Champion.”
Continue ReadingGoodyear supports Team De Rooy’s Rallye du Maroc 2023 victory
Goodyear supported Team De Rooy as it won the Rallye du Maroc 2023 on 12-18 October. The proving ground for the Dakar 2024, Goodyear said its Offroad tyres and TPMS solution helped the team to conquer the Sahara sands. The team covered 2,240km over five stages, demonstrating its capacity to navigate some of the most demanding terrains. The tyre supplier adds that the Goodyear Offroad tyres continued to meet rigorous demands of the rally in terms of durability and performance, while the integration of Goodyear Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) solution in Team De Rooy’s racing trucks helped to provide essential real-time tyre temperature and pressure information via dashboard display, allowing the team to respond quickly and make adjustments as needed.
Continue ReadingGoodyear in Bahrain for World Endurance Championship finale with all titles to be decided
The FIA World Endurance Championship 2023 finale is underway in Bahrain. The drivers’ and constructors’ championships will be decided, alongside the Goodyear Wingfoot Award, in which Filipe Albuquerque and Robert Kubica are level at the top of the table. Albert Costa is 16 points adrift in third, the only other driver with a mathematical chance of clinching the Wingfoot Award title. The Goodyear Wingfoot Award is designed to reward drivers that maximising performance across multiple stint. The award is given to the LMP2 driver who achieves the fastest stint average, measuring their average lap time over two consecutive stints. The Wingfoot has been synonymous with Goodyear since the manufacturer was founded 125 years ago. It is derived from classical mythology – Mercury to the ancient Romans or Hermes to the Greeks. Goodyear considers the swift messenger an apt comparison for its tyre products and performance ethos.
Continue ReadingGoodyear signs tyre supply deal with Masters
Several Masters Historic Racing series will compete on Goodyear and Dunlop tyres under a new long-term tyre supply agreement between the tyre maker and UK-based race organiser. Goodyear says this agreement builds on longstanding relationships between Masters and its Dunlop and Avon brands and marks the reintroduction of the Goodyear name into several championships, including events for Formula 1 and 24 Hours of Le Mans cars.
Continue ReadingBTCC launches ‘Quick Six’ qualifying for 2024
The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship has announced a change to its qualifying format that it will deploy at every race weekend during the 2024 season and beyond. The BTCC’s ‘Quick Six’ qualifying will feature three short segments that aim to create further interest for fans trackside and the hundreds of thousands who watch every qualifying session and race live via ITV Sport.
Continue ReadingYokohama renews title sponsorship of Porsche Sprint Challenge North America and USA West
Yokohama Tire has renewed its partnership with the United States Auto Club (USAC) as the official tyre partner and presenting sponsor of the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America and USA for the 2024 season. The renewal means next year’s challenge will be the fourth consecutive season with competitors using Yokohama rubber. Yokohama will supply its Advan A005 racing slicks and Advan A006 rain tyres. The North America series visits seven tracks for its 14 rounds, while the USA West schedule features 12 rounds at six different tracks.
Continue ReadingMaior siblings win FIA Junior ERC title in Hankook’s first season
Hankook concluded its first FIA Junior European Rally Championship (JERC) season at Rally Hungary at the start of October. After success on the final special stage, Romanian siblings Norbert and Frencesca Maior secured both their first win of the season and the European rally championship for juniors. The JERC has been an important pillar in developing younger rally drivers. Four different manufacturers from the Rally4 class feature in the championship, supplying production-based, front-wheel drive cars generating roughly 210 hp. All cars start on Hankook tyres.
Continue ReadingBridgestone: No tyre supply ‘this time’ but F1 open to our tech & sustainability
Formula One is sticking with Pirelli as tyre supplier for the 2025 to 2027 seasons, but Bridgestone comments that both the Federation Internationale de lAutomobile (FIA) and Formula One Group (FOG) responded favourably to its proposed “advanced innovative technology and sustainability initiatives.” Furthermore, the Japanese manufacturer doesn’t rule out throwing its hat into the F1 ring at a later date.
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