Tag: tyre supply
Continental & Spark Racing Technology begin Extreme E testing
Testing for the Extreme E off-road electric racing series began earlier this month at the Château de Lastours off-road proving grounds in the south of France. One question the tested aimed to answer during proceedings was how well the car and tyres work together. They also looked into any potential weaknesses in the electric race car’s physical and technical design, not least in its motor. The tests lasted several days and were run by Continental, tyre supplier to Extreme E, and Spark Racing Technology.
Goodyear returns to UK motorsport with sole BTCC tyre supply
From next year, Goodyear will replace its sister brand Dunlop as sole tyre supplier to the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). Goodyear says the decision comes with a view to enhancing the Goodyear brand within the motorsport and ultra-ultra-high-performance (UUHP) segments. Goodyear first returned to motorsport outside North America at the end of August with the opening round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) at Silverstone.
Goodyear making ‘comeback’ at Silverstone with soft, medium WEC tyres
Although active within North America, including as exclusive tyre supplier to NASCAR’s top three series, the Goodyear name has long played second fiddle in motorsport to Dunlop in other parts of the world. This will change on Sunday, with the brand’s return to global motorsport at Silverstone. Goodyear says that after 12,000 kilometres of testing at seven circuits, it is “well prepared” for its comeback.
Prologue debut for Michelin’s 2019/20 WEC tyres
Goodyear is making headlines for its global motorsport comeback, but is by no means the only tyre maker presenting its latest tyres for the 2020 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) at this week’s Prologue test. Michelin says it has also brought its freshly-developed endurance tyres to Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain to give teams and drivers a “valuable opportunity” to fine-tune their cars’ set-ups ahead of the WEC season opener at Silverstone on 1 September.
Goodyear WEC tyres to debut at tomorrow’s ‘Prologue’ test
Teams from the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) will take to the track for ‘Prologue’ pre-season testing at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya tomorrow. One of the most significant moments of this anticipated public test session will be the return of Goodyear to international competition.
Yokohama tyres for 65th Macau Grand Prix
Yokohama Rubber is to supply Yokohama Advan racing tyres to the 65th Macau Grand Prix, which takes place in the administrative region between 15 and 18 November. This is the 35th occasion that Yokohama has served as tyre supplier – it supplied tyres to this event for 33 consecutive years until 2015 and, after Pirelli’s tyre supply in 2016, resumed support last year. Yokohama Advan tyres will be the control tyre for the event’s main race, the FIA F3 World Cup, and for the concurrently held FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) race. In addition, they will be the tyre of choice for cars competing in the event’s other races.
Hankook throws its hat into the Formula 1 ring
It’s official: Hankook Tire has submitted a tender for Formula 1 tyre supply between 2020 and 2023. In response to questions from within our publishing group, Felix Kinzer, director of corporate communications at Hankook Tire Europe, confirmed that the company submitted an application prior to the 31 August deadline.
Conditions still don’t seem right for a Michelin return to F1
The FIA is currently seeking tenders for tyre supply to the Formula One World Championship between 2020 and 2023. As expected, talk in motorsport circles has returned to the possibility of Michelin throwing its hat into the ring. The French tyre maker is open to the prospect of acting as sole tyre supplier, as requested by the FIA tender, provided that “a technical challenge was involved.” Yet other FIA conditions continue to place stumbling blocks in the way of a Michelin return.
F3 Asian Championship Premieres in Malaysia on Giti tyres
The opening round of the new Formula 3 Asian Championship took place on the weekend of 14-15 July, and all vehicles lined up on the grid at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit were shot with GitiCompete GTR1 tyres. Giti Tire is on board as exclusive tyre supplier to the series.
Maxam supplying agricultural tyres to STARCO
The recent signing of a long-term supply agreement between Maxam Tire International and STARCO will allow the latter to extend its wheel and tyre product range for the growing agricultural segment. The agricultural trailer and implement products supplied by Maxam will primarily consist of tyres with higher than standard speed and load ratings; these will be paired with STARCO rims and offered to OEMs as complete wheel solutions.
Giti Tire debuts as Mini Challenge Asia tyre supplier
The pre-season round of the new Mini Challenge Asia series took place at the Zhuhai International Circuit in China on 17-18 March, with all entrants racing on Giti rubber. Giti Tire says it is “excited to be taking a new step forward as the official tyre” of 2018 Mini Challenge Asia, and it is supplying GitiCompete GRT1 tyres to each of the John Cooper Works Mini F56 cars racing in the China-based series. The official opening round will take place at the Zhuhai International Circuit on 16-17 June 2018.
Lighter and road-near – Michelin ready for Formula E season with new Pilot Sport
The new-generation Michelin Pilot Sport tyre set to debut in the 2018/19 Formula E season will be lighter, more energy efficient and bear an even closer resemblance to road tyres than the first-generation Michelin tyre. Its introduction accompanies changes to vehicle technical specifications that come into effect at the start of the all-electric racing series’ fifth season.
Bridgestone outlines 2018 motorsports activities
As set out in its recently-released 2018 motorsport plan, this year Bridgestone Corporation will continue to be involved in various motorsport championships, ranging from top-level races to grassroots series contested by amateurs.
Pirelli returning to WRC in 2018
Following a year off in 2017, Pirelli will return to the World Rally Championship from next year. The tyre maker has already homologated new products for the latest generation of WRC car as well as the feeder WRC2 category. In addition, from next year Pirelli also commences exclusive tyre supply for the Junior World Rally Championship, a series dedicated to drivers born later than 1 January 1989 and contested using identical R2-class Ford Fiestas. The winner will become the owner of a brand-new Fiesta R5 together with a tyre, fuel and free rally entries package towards the 2019 WRC2 season.
ELMS 2017: G-Drive Racing & JMW Motorsport take titles on Dunlop tyres
Dunlop has congratulated G-Drive Racing after the latter was named European Le Mans Series (ELMS) champion for this year after the final round of the series this past weekend. The tyre maker comments that G-Drive Racing and the other Dunlop-shod teams delivered strong performance in the open-tyre LMP2 class, with all six rounds of the series won by a car racing on Dunlop tyres. Praise was also showered upon JMW Motorsport, the team crowned champion of the all-Dunlop GTE class.