Hankook Tire is now the exclusive tire supplier to the international touring car racing series DTM. The contract recently signed between the tire manufacturer and DTM umbrella organization ITR is initially slated to run for three years. It takes account of both the current set of rules and regulations, valid until the end of 2011, and the future version, which is to apply starting in 2012, and covers the supply of equipment not only to the current teams, Audi and Mercedes-Benz, but also to other vehicle manufacturers (BMW from 2012 onward).
This exclusive partnership with the series heralds a new era in the motor sport activities of Hankook. In recent years, the company had focused its track racing motor sport activities on long-distance events, to resounding success in spectacular races including the 24-hours classics in Le Mans and on the Nürburgring. From now on the DTM will form the core of the international Hankook motor sport activities in the years to come.
Hans Werner Aufrecht, 1st chairman of the board, ITR e.V. (DTM commercial rights holder and promoter), said, “We are very happy with the long-term partnership Hankook. During the negotiations prior to signing this contract, it already became apparent how motivated those in charge at Hankook are while dealing with the DTM project. The performance of the race tires also convinced everyone involved right away. Personally, I am happy that we have found another international corporate group that is willing and able to keep our high pace and our quality standards as an exclusive supplier in the years to come. Hankook has everything it takes for that.”
In 2011, the DTM will begin its 12th season after its comeback in 2000. DTM fans can look forward to an exciting season featuring a great many highlights. In the coming year, as in years past, premium automotive manufacturers Audi and Mercedes-Benz will continue to share responsibility for the sporting content of the racing series by providing racing versions of their series-produced vehicles: Audi with the A4 DTM and Mercedes-Benz with the racing version of the AMG Mercedes C-Class. The high-tech touring cars of the DTM are among the most fascinating vehicles in the international motor sport scene. The 480 HP rear drive, the full-throated growl of the four-litre V8 engines, and the cars’ brawny look speak for themselves. Starting in 2011, Hankook racing tires of the premium Ventus Racing type, which have been successful all over the world, will deliver grip to suit these cars.
DTM calendar for 2011:
May 1: Round 1, Hockenheimring, Germany
May 15: Round 2, Zandvoort, Netherlands
June 5: Round 3, Spielberg, Austria
June 19: Round 4, Lausitzring, Germany
July 3: Round 5, Norisring, Germany
July 17: Road show, Munich, Germany
Aug. 7: Round 6, Nürburgring, Germany
Sept. 4: Round 7, Brands Hatch, England
Sept. 18: Round 8, Oschersleben, Germany
Oct. 2: Round 9, Valencia, Spain
Oct. 23: Round 10, Hockenheim, Germany
Nov. 6: Round 11, Shanghai, China
Pirelli Scorpion Rally Places Third at 2011 Dakar: First Privateer Finish and Rider’s Personal Best
Pirelli rider Hélder Rodrigues (Yamaha) took third position on the podium at Dakar 2011 following an exciting finish during Saturday’s 13th and final stage of this year’s race. Pirelli continued its support of the Dakar race with the promising Portuguese rider, and selected an updated Scorpion Rally rear tire to race with, featuring a dedicated tread and structure designed for the high-speeds and extreme off-road terrain of the Dakar.
Race winner Marc Coma took the checkered flag quietly on his Factory KTM machine, and the final podium spot was decided in the last few kilometers. Rodrigues completed the 2011 Dakar Rally, held in Argentina and Chile, in third position overall, a result he obtained from an impressive push over the last half of the race. Despite a 40 minutes difference from Francisco “Chaleco” Lopez Contardo (Aprilia) on the penultimate stage, the Yamaha WR450F rider was confident in the possibility of a podium.
Pirelli rider Rodrigues was the race’s fastest privateer, having been supported primarily by his local country, and also recorded the best ever result for a Portuguese rider in the Dakar.
After finishing in third-place in the penultimate stage ahead of his great adversary in the fight for the remaining podium position, Rodrigues proved to be especially motivated for the final race to the finish, noting that “anything is possible.”
It was. What seemed improbable happened, and Lopez lost his third-place podium spot to Rodrigues after experiencing mechanical problems on his Aprilia just 22 kilometers shy of the finish. On the finish line, Rodrigues, who had just made the second fastest time of the special stage, was just 5 seconds behind Verhoeven and began counting the minutes until Chaleco crossed the finish line at 13:23 - 29 minutes too late to save his third-place spot - now occupied by Hélder.
After Aprilia’s podium finish in 2010, the consistency of Hélder and his Pirelli Scorpion Rally tires allowed Yamaha to take the spot right behind the two lead KTM bikes.
For Rodrigues, who finished 4th last year, it is a dream come true. The best-finishing Yamaha rider put a “knife between his teeth” in the race completed the 181 kilometers of the special, a total of 826 between Cordoba and Buenos Aires in 01h25m12s of the last stage second-place, and just five seconds behind the winner for the day - the Belgian Frans Verhoeven BMW. This impressive close to the 2011 edition of the Dakar is added to Hélder’s successes during the grueling two week race: a second in Stage 6 and third in Stage 12.
Marc Coma (KTM) was the big winner of this year's rally, with a race-winning time of 51h25m0s, thereby stealing the title to Cyril Despres (KTM) who finished second, just 15 minutes behind the Spanish rider and former Dakar winner for Pirelli from 2009.
Pirelli to Supply Citroen Racing Trophy from 2011
Italian tire firm Pirelli has sealed a three-year agreement as the exclusive supplier to the Citroen Racing Trophy: a one-make rally series that will take place throughout 10 countries in 2011.
The Citroen Racing Trophy is open to all of Citroen’s two-wheel drive rally cars, including the C2-R2 MAX and the recently-unveiled DS3 R3, which claimed five class victories during its debut season last year, including third overall on the Rallye du Valais in Switzerland.
The cars will use a selection of Pirelli’s asphalt and gravel tires this year, which are based on a technology that is similar to that of the covers supplied to the World Rally Championship, from 2008 to 2010. These were extremely resistant tires, bearing a puncture rate of less than 0.02% over the three years when Pirelli was exclusive supplier to the series.
Specifically, the DS3 R3 will use a 17-inch RX and RE asphalt tire and a 15-inch K tire on gravel. The R2 cars will use the same range of tires, but the asphalt RX and RE covers will be 16-inch.
The 10 countries taking part in the Citroen Racing Trophy this year are Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The groundbreaking series gives competitors the maximum flexibility by allowing them to mix and match events between different countries, with about 100 European rallies participating during the course of the season. This year’s Citroen Racing Trophy will get underway with the Rallye Torrie in Portugal and with Rallye Sunseeker in the United Kingdom, with both competitions taking place at the end of February over the same weekend.
Pirelli’s motorsport director Paul Hembery commented, “It’s a great pleasure and privilege for us to renew our association with Citroen in rallying. This time, Pirelli’s focus is on supporting the champions of tomorrow, who are set to learn their trade all over Europe thanks to the Citroen Racing Trophy: an excellent training ground that will ensure the future of the sport is in safe hands. Rallying remains a key plank of Pirelli’s motorsport philosophy, which is why we are particularly pleased to be present with Citroen in this exciting and innovative one-make series that will see our tires competing with up-and-coming talent on some of Europe’s most important international rallies.”
Yokohama-Sponsored West Racing Team Names Drivers for 2011 ALMS GT Class
The Yokohama Tire Corp.-sponsored West Racing Team announced Nicky Pastorelli and Dominik Schwager will be its drivers for the 2011 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) season.
The two veteran racers, who last year were teammates in the FIA GT1 championship, will campaign West Racing’s first ADVAN A005 tire-shod Lamborghini in the ALMS GT Class.
“West Racing owner Eduardo Espindola has hired two, top-notch seasoned pros,” said Andrew Briggs, Yokohama senior manager of motorsports. “The competition will be tough, but Nicky and Dominik have experience racing Lamborghinis, so we’re anticipating an exciting, successful season.”
“I’m proud to be part of the West-Yokohama racing team,” said the Dutch-born/Italian-bred Pastorelli, who won the European F3000 championship in 2004. “It’s a great challenge to be part of a new project and help make it successful.”
The ALMS campaign will reunite the German-born Schwager with Yokohama. In 2004, he was a driver of the ADVAN-shod Toyota Supra in the Japanese Super GT series. “I’ve always been interested in ALMS racing, so this is a tremendous opportunity. Because we’re a new team, I know the task ahead is going to be demanding, but thanks to technology partners like Yokohama, I know we’ll be competitive.”
“I’m confident Yokohama’s motorsports heritage will be very well represented by Nicky and Dominik and the entire West Racing Team,” said Briggs.