MOTORSPORT
It isn’t just Formula One whose tyres have, in Pirelli’s words, undergone a “revolution”. In this, the tenth consecutive season of single tyre supply to the Superbike series – the longest single tyre supply agreement in the history of motorsport – the Italian firm is ready for the switch from 16.5-inch to 17-inch tyres.
Those wanting to see more overtaking action in Formula One won’t be disappointed by what Pirelli has in store. During today’s presentation of Pirelli’s 2013 motorsport season, the Italian tyre maker detailed its new F1 tyres. It stated that this year the P Zero dry weather and Cinturato wet weather ranges have been “completely revolutionised,” having been developed “according to the wishes of the teams and the latest rules from world motorsport’s governing body, the FIA.” Pirelli says the objective of all these innovations, which work closely together, is to improve performance and increase thermal degradation, to ensure at least two pit stops per race and open up more strategic options for all the teams.
Having officially ‘kicked off’ its 2013 motorsport season, later today Pirelli will share its news regarding the upcoming year. At 11:30am local time (10:30am GMT) the Italian tyre maker will conduct a press conference at its Milan headquarters; the event will be streamed online via the company’s website and viewers will be given the chance to submit questions to the Pirelli team through the company’s Facebook page.
Toyo Tires supported driver Robby Gordon won Stage 11 and finished second at Stage 12 of the 2013 Dakar. Gordon’s victory at Stage 11 came after the competition portion was shortened amid safety concerns. Originally intended to run from La Rioja to Fiambalá in Argentina, the Stage was cut at the first checkpoint, taking the distance down from 219km to 70km, since heavy rains had flooded two rivers along the route.
Maxxis used its Autosport stand to raise funds for the fight against cancer. The combination of motorsport stars, the company’s own ‘Maxxis Babes’, and a host of racing cars and bikes proved something of a draw for NEC show-goers, with Maxxis turning its pulling power to the Macmillan Cancer Support’s advantage by selling calendars to boost the charity’s coffers.
Exhaust manufacturer Milltek used the occasion of Autosport International to reveal the car in which its team will compete during the 2013 UK Time Attack Championship. Having won the 2012 Club Classes with a Nissan GT-R in the hands of driver Richard Marshall, the Milltek team will return to its VW Group roots with a prepared VW Golf GTI Mk6, as it goes head to head with the reigning Club Pro 2WD class champion, Bo Nielsen in his Astra VXR Coupe.
Building on a pre-existing relationship with series organiser Motorsport Vision Racing (MSVR), tyre manufacturer Yokohama has announced a deal that sees it become the first tyre supplier to the new Formula 4 series. Both car and tyres were unveiled in parallel with the official announcement of the news at this year's Autosport Show.
Italian tyre company Marangoni has signed a three-year joint title sponsorship agreement with the hugely popular BMW Compact Cup Championship. Now in its third year it has become one of the UK’s fastest growing championships, with over 50 cars expected in 2013. The race cars, all based on BMW E36 318Ti Compact, will feature significant Marangoni branding and will race on 195/50 R15 82V Marangoni Zeta Linea Sport tyres as well as the Zeta Linea road spec tyre. The new agreement brings with it a new name for the championship which from now on will be known as The Marangoni Tyres/GAZ Shocks BMW Compact Cup.
The Pirelli International Rally has been renamed as the Pirelli Richard Burns Foundation Rally in support of the former world rally champion, with the event remaining the second round of this year's MSA British Rally Championship.
One of Britain’s present F1 talents, Paul Di Resta made his Autosport debut during the course of the 2012 event. This year he is one of a number of motorsport driving stars to visit the event.
The 23rd Autosport International has opened its doors at the NEC, Birmingham. The show runs from 10-13 January 2013. Purportedly Europe’s largest motorsport trade show, Autosport International attracts some of the industry’s biggest companies. And from a tyre point of view this means the likes of Pirelli, Dunlop, Yokohama and Maxxis amongst others this year.
Infinity-sponsored golfer, Virginia Espejo, recently qualified for the Ladies European Tour 2013 during the LET 2013 qualifying school, which was held at Morocco’s Al Maaden Golf and Amelkis Golf clubs, in Marrakech.
Toyo Tires equipped vehicles have won the opening three stages of the 2013 Dakar rally. Open Country M/T-R tyres won Stages 1 – 3 thanks to Team Qatar Red Bull. This year’s Dakar rally runs 5 – 20 January and is nearly 5,000 miles in length. The route runs southward from Lima, Peru to Santiago, Chile.
Yokohama HPT Ltd, the UK distributor for the Japanese tyre brand, as well as TSW replacement alloy wheels and marque-specific alloy wheels for BMW, Mercedes and Porsche, will exhibit at this week's Autosport International show at the Birmingham NEC. The company says the focal point of its stand will be the race-specification Aerial Atom, designed for the one-make Atom Cup race series and using Yokohama control tyres.
Catalan rally ace, Xavi Foj, and the Race2Recovery team are just days away from embarking on what is arguably motorsport’s most gruelling challenge – the Dakar Rally – on Cooper 4×4 tyres.
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