Grand-Am Rolex Pilots Tested New Pirelli Slicks
The Pirelli company presented Pirelli P Zero Nero Racing Slick tires (model of 2010) at the Daytona International Speedway during the December testing held within the framework of preparation for the Rolex 24 racing.
Rolex 24 will be held in January 2010. According to numerous fans the racing is “one of the most legendary racings”. Two-day testing was held on 8 – 9 December, all the teams got the first opportunity to test new racing slicks manufactured under the HAOF (Highly-Aromatic Oil-Free) technology, i.e. without the addition of highly-aromatic oils to the rubber compound. Pirelli P Zero Nero Racing Slick became the first eco-friendly tires in the segment, and the pilots said that the results “were impressive”.
The tires were tested on 24 cars at the famous 3,56-mile Daytona racing track. Though the official results of the lap passing time were not published, Max Angelelli on his SunTrust Racing Ford Dallara became the unofficial winner. Besides this, he almost beat the record. “I am satisfied, - said Angelelli. – New tires showed excellent performance. The tire can cope with such number of laps that is hard to imagine”.
Scott Pruett, who won twice in the category Rolex Series Daytona Prototype and three times at Rolex 24, was also impressed by the new Pirelli slicks. Pruett tested BMW Riley together with Felix Sabates.
“It was the durability of the tires that astonished us most of all, - noted Pruett. – This is the greatest breakthrough in the motor racing I have ever seen. Their resistance to loads is astonishing. At the end of the lap we could move with the same speed as at the beginning – that was what we all needed. As far as I can judge they managed to make a big step up. And I’m talking not only about the speed but also about the durability”.
The pilots in both classes of Rolex series will get another opportunity to test their new tires at the Daytona track on 8 – 10 January 2010 during the annual three-day Roar Before the Rolex test.
Yokohama Eco-tires Showed Excellent Performance During Thunderhill 25 Hours Race
Pilots who took the first two places in Thunderhill 25 Hours racing were using “orange” Yokohama ADVAN ENV-R1 tires. Both winners piloted Porsche GT3 Cup. The Mercer Motorsports team won with 24:50.29 (761 laps, 2432 miles), the Ehret Winery team was the second with the result 24:51.53 (739 laps).
“Yokohama tires are just fantastic, - said Johannes van Overbeek, one of the five Mercer pilots. – They are extremely solid and durable. We had no punctures what is vital for the endurance race. But what impressed us most of all was their adaptability for operation at a wide temperature range. The night temperature was +68, in the day it rose up to +145,4. Yokohama’s performance was ideal what cannot be said about other tires”.
The Yokohama company is famous for its high-class road and racing tires. It developed a process of mixing orange oil with natural rubber what resulted in the creation of Super Nano-Power Rubber. Yokohama ADVAN ENV-R1 tire became the first tire in the history of motor racing developed with the use of this technology. It was already approved for use in 2009 Patron GT3 Challenge. The technology reduces the use of oil products by 10% and increases the tire’s utilization capability without sacrificing the features that are necessary for the racing of the highest class.
Yokohama began the development of the new compound in the 1980ies. Now ordinary consumers can also use the advantages of the technology within the framework of the company’s strategy aimed at the decrease of the damage to the environment. “Orange” tires Yokohama dB Super E-spec are already used for the original equipment of Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Honda Accord Hybrid and other models.
Bridgestone Plant Was Praised For Environmental Friendliness
Bridgestone plant in Aiken got “Spare the Air” award from the Healthcare and Environment Department of South Carolina.
As it is noted in the company’s announcement, when dealing with environmental issues the management of the plant is abide by the following principle: “Think globally, act locally”. The innovations aimed at the reduction of pollution allowed the plant to get the award.
“We are very glad that the authorities appraised our efforts, - said John Stewart, the manager of the plant. – Protection of the environment and wish to help local residents are the basic priorities both for our plant and our company, that’s why we ask each member of our team to participate directly in the reduction of environmental pollution. The taken measures bring benefit to our neighbors, families and the whole state”.
The “participants” help draw attention to the ecological problems by means of social advertisement and volunteer participation in special events. Besides this, the management of the plant encourages the workers to give each other a lift in case they live on the way to work, use motorcycles and hybrid vehicles that are provided with special parking places available only to those who “help minimize fuel consumption”.
Other mentioned innovations include the use of Innovative Tire Building Technology that allows to reduce emission of fluid organic compounds by 60%; the loaders work on hydrogen and don’t emit CO2; biodiesel equipment for maintenance; besides this 33 000 seedings of longleaf pine have been planted at the works.
Aiken plant was opened in 1998 and got LEED Silver certificate from the American Council for the construction of “green” houses that is handed for the effective use of energy and water, monitoring the use of resources and construction of facilities that retain heat. Bridgestone plants in South Carolina and Tennessee became the first plants awarded with the certificate.
Electric Cayenne With Hankook Tires Was Presented In Copenhagen
The Hankook company has presented a winter tire for the cars that will be used by the participants of the UN Climate Change Conference which is currently being held in Copenhagen.
Among the cars there will be RUF Stormster (joint product of RUF Automobile and Siemens) that has been created on the platform of Porsche Cayenne and equipped with Hankook Icebear W300A UHP winter tires that feature improved safety level and fuel consumption efficiency. The combination of these properties has made the tires the ideal choice for the conference.
All electric cars such as RUF Stormster have higher torque if to compare with cars using fossil fuels.
The right choice of tires, reduced rolling resistance, transmission that doesn’t spend time on gear changing enable further increase of hauling capability. And these conditions are ideal for the new Hankook tire. Patented SCCT (Stiffness Control Contour Theory) technology ensures more uniform distribution of pressure in the contact patch what improves traction and durability of the tire. Besides this, SCCT technology also provides uniform distribution of pressure inside the tire what increases stability and reduces rolling resistance.
Innovative asymmetric tread pattern developed exclusively for SUVs also reduces fuel consumption level without sacrificing durability and driving performance. The siping system was optimized by computer to deliver effective braking performance what is extremely important in severe winter conditions.
The state-of-the-art Hankook Silica technology is applied for the balance between low rolling resistance and wet traction.
“SCCT technology was developed to minimize the harmful influence on the environment. That was the reason for our participation in the project, -said Jin-Wook Choi. – Environmental friendliness should be as essential as safety of the tires. We are very glad that our tires will be mounted on the vehicle that will be used during the UN conference”.
RUF Stormster is equipped with classical 5-spoke alloy wheels and Hankook W300A tires (size – 295/30R 22).
