This year began with the sad news that Ken Block passed away after a snowmobile accident on 2 January. The world-renowned rally driver served as brand ambassador for Toyo Tire Group for the past seven years, and the tyre maker has published a memorial message paying tribute to Block and his accomplishments.
Motoring journalist and television personality Fuzz Townshend has become the first ever face of Landsail Tyres. Townshend has vast experience as a mechanic and expertise in car restoration. In appointing him its brand ambassador, Landsail calls Townshend “a trusted and well-respected figure in the motoring industry.” Landsail tyres, manufactured by Sentury Tire, are popular in the UK. The brand estimates that one in every 25 tyres on UK roads is a Landsail product. The new appointment represents the latest move to increase the awareness of the brand among consumers.
Triple British Touring Car Champion Gordon ‘Flash’ Shedden is set to continue his position as brand ambassador for GS Yuasa. The Shedden/ GS Yuasa partnership is long standing, with the Scottish ace having had the company’s Yuasa or GS brand’s backing since 2011 and claiming three BTCC titles with the Yuasa-sponsored Team Dynamics outfit in 2012, 2015 and 2016. During the 2022 season, ‘Flash’ as he is affectionately known by fans, will carry GS Yuasa’s distinctive green and orange logo on his helmet.
Narain Karthikeyan, who in 2005 became India’s first-ever Formula 1 driver, has signed on as a JK Tyre brand ambassador. Commenting on the arrangement, Raghupati Singhania said the tyre maker was “delighted” to have Karthikeyan represent the JK Tyre brand in India.
LMP2 driver Antonio Felix da Costa is now a Goodyear Brand Ambassador. The tyre maker announced da Costa’s new engagement prior to the weekend’s FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) 8 Hours of Portimao event; the Portuguese driver called the announcement of his ambassadorship on the weekend that WEC arrived in his homeland an “added bonus”.
Nico Rosberg has signed his name on the Continental dotted line and will henceforth act as a brand manager for the tyre maker. Announcing the arrangement, the former Formula One World Champion tweeted that he’s “proud to work with partners who put sustainability, technology and safety at the heart of what they do.”
Five-time Isle of Man TT winner Peter Hickman has announced a deeper relationship with Dunlop Motorcycle Europe that will include an Official Brand Ambassador role, adding to his duties as a Dunlop test tyre rider.
Marking the launch of its new flagship UHP tyre, Davanti unveiled Olympic legend Sir Chris Hoy as its Protoura Sport ambassador. No stranger to speed, Hoy retired from cycling as one of the most decorated Olympians in history, embarking on a new career in motorsport. He has since won races in the European LeMans Series and the GT4 24hr Series. He now competes in a range of codes from rallycross to endurance to the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. “We are proud to welcome Sir Chris to the Davanti family,” said Davanti Tyres general manager Peter Cross. “As someone with a reputation built on elite-level performance, both on two wheels and four, he perfectly embodies Protoura Sport.”
Avon Tyres and two-time Isle of Man TT race winner and former British Supersport champion Steve Plater has become brand ambassador for Avon’s motorcycle tyre range. Avon has been working closely with Plater in recent months to enhance the 3D Ultra Xtreme and 3D Ultra Xtreme Slick products. Designed and manufactured in the UK, the 3D Ultra Xtreme and 3D Ultra Xtreme Slick, along with the wet-weather 3D Ultra Xtreme Rain Racer, are high-performance tyres developed with demanding track use in mind. Cooper has previously introduced brand ambassadors for particular product ranges, like Formula 1’s David Coulthard, who represented Cooper UHP tyres.
Kenda has signed up Jeff Ward as its latest brand ambassador. The British-American multi-time AMA Motocross, Supercross, Supermoto champion, 7-time international MX des Nations champion, X Games gold medallist and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee joins Motocross Hall of Famer and X Games Gold Medallist Doug Henry in this role.
Andy Savva, The Garage Inspector, has been involved in the automotive industry for over 32 years having owned and managed some of the most successful independent garages in the UK.
Giti Tire has started the global rollout of its ‘Giti Ambassador Program’, a new scheme that aims to bring together social media-savvy drivers who share a passion for driving and Giti tyres.
Andy Savva – ‘The Garage Inspector’ – has become Schaeffler’s first UK brand ambassador. Savva has been supporting Schaeffler’s Repxpert team by presenting at various trade fairs and training events over recent months, sharing his expertise on building up a workshop brand and profile, while also offering tips and best practice techniques on how to make a business profitable.
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