Australian Tyre Dealer, Dec 2015/Jan 2016

THIS IS WHAT 50 MILLION TYRES LOOK LIKE. THAT’S HOW MANY ARE DISCARDED IN AUSTRALIA EACH YEAR.* If you want your old tyres recycled in the most environmentally sustainable way, only deal with Tyre Stewardship Accredited suppliers. Look for this logo or go to our website to find out who they are. www.tyrestewardship.org.au

NEW 2016

Volume based on Equivalent Passenger Units (EPUs). An EPU is standard passenger car tyre.

Full EPU Ratio Tables available at www.tyrestewardship.org.au

*

TRP TSA0002

Tyre Stewardsh ip Australia consu mer campaign.

Quality speaks all languages

CONTENTS 2. EDITORS WORD ATD is a publication of the Motor Trades Association of Queensland (MTA Queensland) and is endorsed by the Australian Tyre Dealers and Retreaders Association (ATDRA).

INDUSTRY NEWS 4. Goodyear celebrates 100 years on Australia’s roads

Print Post approved PPP444752/0002

6. Stamford Tyres to distribute Blacklion tyre range

The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the ATDRA or any State or Territory constituent body, or of the Publishers and they take no responsibility for them, except where specifically indicated.

8.

Tyre Stewardship Australia welcomes Kmart Tyre & Auto Service 10. Tyre Stewardship Australia launches

The Dutch Nuon Solar Team, with their car Nuna 8, won the 2015 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in October, becoming back-toback champions and taking their sixth win since the event’s inception in 1987, p.16.

consumer education campaign

HEAD OFFICE Building 8/2728 Logan Road Eight Mile Plains Qld 4113 PO Box 4530 Eight Mile Plains QLD 4113 Tel: 07 3237 8777 Fax: 07 3844 4488 Toll Free: 1800 177 951 Email: atd@mtaq.com.au Website: www.mtaq.com.au

12. Bridgestone unveils Battlax Hypersport S21 14. Dunlop launches Roadsmart III 15. Car enthusiasts get track time with Toyo 16. Solar-powered journey reaches thrilling conclusion in Adelaide

EDITOR Jonathan Nash

AUTO NEWS 19. Australia welcomes Alfa Romeo’s

ART DIRECTOR Marco Ilinic

4C Spider

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Barry Browne 03 9807 9154 Email: barry@barrybrownemedia.com.au

20. Porsche green lights the Mission E

EDITORIAL Enquiries should be made to: The Editor 07 3237 8721 or email atd@mtaq.com.au

PRODUCTS

The first 100 per cent electrically-powered Porsche is on its way.

Porsche’s supervisory board has given the green light for the Mission E project. The vehicle is due to be launched at the end of the decade, p.20.

21. New Ford Mustang arrives in Australia

22. New compact Narva work lamps as bright as ever 23. Projecta releases most advanced dual

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battery charger yet

MOTORSPORTS 24. Rosberg takes victory in final F1 race

Image: Francesc Juan / Shutterstock.com

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Nico Rosberg won the final Grand Prix of the Formula One season in Abu Dhabi, defeating his Mercedes teammate and recently crowned World Champion Lewis Hamilton for the third race in succession and, in the process, scoring his sixth victory of the season, p.24.

of 2015 26. Renault announces return to Formula 1

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in 2016 27.

Porsche and Webber win WEC world championship 28. Lorenzo the New MotoGP World Champion 29. Winterbottom claims V8 drivers’ title with Red Bull the champion team 20140138 20150305

“Australian Tyre Dealer” welcomes submissions of information and prepared articles, but their publication will be at its sole discretion. Material appearing in “Australian Tyre Dealer” is copyright, and reproduction in whole or part without the Publisher’s written consent is prohibited.

“Australian Tyre Dealer” is circulated to tyre dealers, senior executives of companies which supply the tyre industry, and representatives of relevant industry groups.

30. WORLD NEWS

Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo has been crowned the MotoGP World Champion for the third time, leading from the outset in the season’s final race in Valencia to record victory and to become only the third rider in the premier class to overturn a points deficit in the last round to become champion, p.28.

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EDITOR’S WORD

H

Jonathan Nash Editor

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ello and welcome to the final Australian Tyre Dealer for 2015.

Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) continues to grow from strength to strength.

In the last few weeks, the organisation has announced that Kmart Tyre & Auto Service has signed up to the tyre recycling scheme, joining the likes of Tyrepower, Beaurepaires and Bridgestone Australia.

TSA has also announced the launch of more than $1 million in research and development funding as it seeks to encourage research partnerships between industry, government, research institutions and end-users. The Tyre Stewardship Research Fund is to be delivered in two streams, with $1million to support projects aimed at increasing Australian use of tyre-derived recycled material currently available, and $150,000 directed to ‘futurefocused PhD research into new applications and technologies that may benefit the tyre recycling industry and/or its end products’.

On top of these developments, Tyre Stewardship Australia is about to launch a nationwide education campaign that will make sustainable management of end-of-life tyres (ELTs) ‘live and relatable in the minds of consumers’. The TSA says ‘the print and online campaign will clearly illustrate the size of the challenge Australia faces in dealing with ELTs and offer a pathway to solutions. The latest industry study confirms that Australia produces over 51 million end-of-life tyres each year with only a very small proportion currently recycled domestically.’

In other industry news, Stamford Tyres Australia has announced that it has secured the exclusive national distribution rights to the Blacklion range of tyres. Stamford has branches and entities in 10 countries around the world and distributes to over 90 countries globally, though the company adds that its main

strength and presence is centred in the Australasian region.

Also in this edition, we look back at the 2015 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, held in October.

Aimed at promoting research on solar-powered cars and showcasing the development of advanced automotive technology, 42 teams from leading international universities and technical institutes, together with private entrepreneurs, came together to race the 3,000km journey from Darwin to Adelaide, using only the sun for power.

For the record, the Dutch Nuon Solar Team, with their car Nuna 8, won the Challenge, becoming back-to-back champions and taking their sixth win since the event’s inception in 1987.

In Motorsport news, many of the headline competitions have reached a conclusion with Formula One, MotoGP, V8 Supercars and the World Endurance Championship (WEC) all crowning their champions in the last few weeks. Of particular note is the success of Mark Webber driving for the Porsche team in the WEC. Along with his teammates Timo Bernhard and Brendon Hartley, Webber won four races on the trot during the 8-race season, notching victories in Germany, the USA, Japan and China, while also registering a second-place finish in the competition’s most famous race, the 24 hour of Le Mans.

I hope you enjoy this edition of Australian Tyre Dealer. Feel free to drop me a line if you have some news you would like to share with the industry. I look forward to hearing from you.

Jonathan Nash jonathann@mtaq.com.au

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Goodyear celebrates 100 years on Australia’s roads G oodyear is celebrating 100 years as an industry leader in tyre technology, innovation and safety on Australia’s roads.

From the humble beginnings of a small office at 231 Clarence Street, Sydney in 1915, it wasn’t long before Goodyear established a presence nationwide, with distribution arrangements through local motor suppliers in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane.

Within 10 years, Goodyear tyres were so enthusiastically accepted by the Australian public that, in July 1925, Mr. W.G Kither, former manager of the Goodyear Adelaide branch, floated the idea of opening a local manufacturing plant.

Two years later, in 1927, Goodyear produced its first Australian-made tyre from a manufacturing plant in Granville, Sydney.

Goodyear grew its operations considerably by 1930, with additional depots being established in Newcastle, Goulburn, Tamworth and Lismore in New South Wales, while other states were served by depots at Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong in Victoria; and Rockhampton, Townsville and Cairns in Queensland.

By 1932 Goodyear had manufactured one million tyres in Australia. By 1951 Goodyear had increased this volume to 10 million tyres.

During World War II, Goodyear’s Australian operations contributed to servicing the

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While innovation is inherent and pivotal to Goodyear’s local success, the brand’s nationwide family of companyowned, franchised and independent tyre dealers who have stocked and distributed products over the century has been fundamental too.

The Goodyear Dunlop Distribution Centre at Truganina in Victoria From its first retail branch in Melbourne (1915), there tyre needs of aircraft, service are now hundreds of dealers flying trucks, jeeps, motorcycles the Goodyear flag across Australia. and service equipment.

“A centenary is a remarkable Additionally, the manufacture achievement and testament to of bullet-seal fuel tanks and the strength of our business, team aircraft tyres – both vital items and customers,” said Goodyear’s for war – were pioneered in managing director in Australia, Australia by Goodyear.

Thierry Villard. “As industries At the turn of the century, and companies have come and the company launched the gone over the decades, Goodyear iconic Goodyear blimp into Australia has achieved and Australian skies in support of sustained a reputation as an the 2000 Olympic Games. The industry leader through continued blimp provided aerial network innovation, adaptation to changing television coverage for various markets, as well as a continued events throughout the country. commitment to understanding Today, Goodyear remains an and delivering on what our industry leader in tyre innovation, customers value and need. which it transfers across the globe “Innovation and safety have to markets in which it operates. been, and will always remain, Some of the innovations at the core of the Goodyear brought to Australia in recent brand. We take great pride in years have included the continuing to be one of the RunOnFlat Technology, launched country’s — and the world’s in 2005, allowing motorists to — top tyre companies, leading continue driving even after a the way with our technology. puncture; the introduction of “I thank the thousands of Fuel Saving Technology in the dealers and distributors, the Assurance Fuel Max tyre in 2010, hundreds of thousands of users of designed to save customers our products and of course each money at the pump; and the and every one of our Australian use of Goodyear’s QuietTred team for their support over the Technology, which contributes last century. I look forward to to the EfficientGrip Performance the continuation of Goodyear in tyre being Goodyear’s Australia for the next 100 years, quietest ever luxury tyre. with the best yet to come!”

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Stamford Tyres to distribute Blacklion tyre range S tamford Tyres Australia is extremely proud to have secured the exclusive national distribution rights to the Blacklion range of tyres.

Stamford originated in Singapore in the 1930s and has branches and entities in 10 countries around the world. It distributes to over 90 countries globally though its main strength and presence is centred in the Australasian region.

Over these 80 years, Stamford has grown to be the largest tyre and wheel distributor in the region.

One of the key attributes to this success is the establishing of close working relationships with products and brands of the highest quality and whose management has the requisite professionalism with which they can grow together.

The Blacklion manufacturer has recently been added to Stamford’s Stamford Tyres office and warehouse in Sydney

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Blacklion has a full range of passenger, light truck, SUV and truck offerings which are modern in design and construction with silicon compound to meet the Australian market requirements.

South East Asian portfolio. They are one of the largest Asian-based manufacturers, employing high quality standards and a professional business approach. In the last year, Stamford have been distributing some of the company’s brands through branches in South East Asia to great success, and it is from here that Stamford has now expanded the area of cooperation to its Australian entity.

Blacklion has a full range of passenger, light truck, SUV and truck offerings which are modern in design and construction with silicon compound to meet the Australian market requirements. This range is also constantly being expanded upon to meet the developing needs of the global market.

Stamford Tyres Australia looks forward to making Blacklion a ROARING success in Australia.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Tyre Stewardship Australia welcomes Kmart Tyre & Auto Service K mart Tyre & Auto Service has signed up to the Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) tyre recycling scheme.

The company joins other accredited outlets including Tyrepower, Beaurepaires and Bridgestone Australia - as well as numerous independent stores - already participating in the Scheme.

With the accreditation process underway for a number of other tyre retail operations, Australian consumers will soon notice the TSA accreditation logo at most retail outlets around the country: the latest inclusion of more than 240 Kmart Tyre & Auto Service stores, brings the total of TSAaccredited tyre outlets to almost 1,000.

“As a business, we take our environmental strategy seriously and our participation in the Tyre Stewardship Australia Scheme further demonstrates our existing commitment to the responsible recycling of end of

life tyres”, said Adam Pay, Managing Director of Kmart Tyre & Auto Service.

“The impact of the accreditation scheme is increasingly obvious to consumers and industry players,” added Matt Genever, TSA CEO. “With so many retailers, collectors and recyclers on board, we are well on the way to achieving one of our key objectives; to ensure that accredited entities operate efficiently with one another right through the tyre

distribution chain. This will enable TSA to provide transparency on the fate of our end-of-life tyres through our integrated reporting system.

“I am confident this momentum will continue. We are also well advanced in creating the structures and resources necessary to meet our other objectives of market development for recycled material and public and industry education.”

Launch of Tyre Stewardship Research Fund with over $1million for R&D

T

yre Stewardship Australia has launched more than $1 million in research and development funding as it seeks to encourage research partnerships between industry, government, research institutions and end users.

The Tyre Stewardship Research Fund is being delivered in two streams: Project Stream: includes $1 million to support projects aimed at increasing Australian use of tyrederived recycled material currently available, such as crumbed rubber, rubber granules and shredded tyres.

Scholarship Stream: provides $150,000 for future-focused PhD

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research into new applications and technologies that may benefit the tyre recycling industry and/or its end products.

Tyre Stewardship Australia CEO, Matt Genever, said this was a key milestone in the delivery of the national scheme.

“The tyre recycling industry in Australia has significant capacity to manage end-of-life tyres but it is constrained by poor local markets for its end products. Only by opening up new markets and seeing a considerable increase in demand will the industry reach its real potential.

“The launch of the Tyre

Stewardship Research Fund represents the largest investment to date in support of developing markets for tyre-derived products.

This funding reflects the significant financial contribution being made

by TSA members toward achieving sustainable tyre recycling in Australia.”

This newly released funding adds to the approximately $600,000 in negotiated project funding already allocated by Tyre Stewardship Australia in 2015.

Funding guidelines and expression of interest documents can be found at http://www. tyrestewardship.org.au/funding-152101741

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Tyre Stewardship Australia launches consumer education campaign T yre Stewardship Australia is about to launch a nationwide education campaign that will make sustainable management of end-of-life tyres (ELTs) live and relatable in the minds of consumers. The print and online campaign will clearly illustrate the size of the challenge Australia faces in dealing with ELTs and offer a pathway to solutions.

The latest industry study confirms that Australia produces over 51 million end-of-life tyres each year with only a very small proportion currently recycled domestically.

Tyre Stewardship Australia is accepted as the industry supported body that will work to create environmentally sustainable outcomes for Australia’s ELTs. TSA now has in place an infrastructure to implement a nationwide accreditation and audit scheme around the

The new public campaign will add consumer understanding that is sure to create commercial incentive for all of the industry to participate. industry management of ELTs. The accreditation application and reporting mechanisms, a sound management structure and all of the necessary processes to ensure effective operation of the Tyre Product Stewardship Scheme have been established.

Accreditation applications, from all levels of the industry, have been forthcoming in significant numbers, with now close to 1,000 tyre retailers accredited within the scheme.

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The collectors and recyclers already accredited represent the majority of the volume of ELTs handled in Australia and accreditations of significant national fleets, including Australia Post and the Australian Defence Force, have also begun.

TSA was established by the tyre industry, with the support of federal and state governments, to instigate a robust reporting and accreditation program, educate industry and consumers and to

help develop the longer term solutions that will turn a current environmental challenge into an economic opportunity.

The new public campaign will add consumer understanding that is sure to create commercial incentive for all of the industry to participate.

The overall outcome of TSA’s initiatives will be to improve environmentally sustainable management of endof-life tyres in Australia, which will be to the benefit of all.

THIS IS WHAT 50 MILLION TYRES LOOK LIKE. THAT’S HOW MANY ARE DISCARDED IN AUSTRALIA EACH YEAR.*

Volume based on Equivalent Passenger Units (EPUs). An EPU is standard passenger car tyre.

Full EPU Ratio Tables available at www.tyrestewardship.org.au

TRP TSA0010

If you want your old tyres recycled in the most environmentally sustainable way, only deal with Tyre Stewardship Accredited suppliers. Look for this logo or go to our website to find out who they are. www.tyrestewardship.org.au

*

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Bridgestone unveils Battlax Hypersport S21 B ridgestone is to launch new Battlax Hypersport S21 motorcycle sport tyres in 2016.

The company says the S21 is designed to get the best out of the newest machines in any conditions, with no compromise to safety and ride comfort and will be available in four front and six rear sizes in early 2016.

To develop the Battlax S21, Bridgestone engineers took the well-proven wet performance of the S20 EVO and combined it with new, innovative features to improve dry performance and extend mileage.

Additionally, Bridgestone says that stability, handling and cornering have all been improved through a modified pattern that enhances tread rigidity and contact patch performance.

UPGRADED ON DRY The front tyre has been designed with a smaller crown profile for better handling and precision through corners without losing the superb neutral feeling, together

Kumho continues commitment to environment

K

umho Tyre is showing its commitment to the environment, helping to fund and plant Greenfleet’s 20,000th tree. Kumho’s target is to fund the planting of over 30,000 trees in Australia by the end of 2016.

One of Australia’s most respected environmental charities, Greenfleet has been planting native forests to offset carbon emissions since 1997 and have since planted over 8.6 million native trees nationally.

The Greenfleet partnership includes valuable incentives for Kumho Tyre customers, including

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higher grip, more confidence and faster cornering in wet and dry.

The company says that many of the improvements brought to S21 were achieved using Bridgestone’s new Ultimate Eye indoor testing facility - the first tyre to benefit from this technology. Ultimate Eye visualises the contact behaviour of a tyre under different speeds and conditions, analyses contact patch pressure distribution, and helps find the optimal combination of compound, tread design, construction and profile.

FASTER THROUGH CORNERS

Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S21

with a triple-layer compound and high-stiffness bead fillers for optimum damping and stability.

The rear tyre has a larger crown profile which, together with the optimised belt construction and groove positioning, upgrades the rear feeling and increases cornering stability. Less slip in the contact area reduces wear, adding to mileage.

Both front and rear have a new shoulder compound which provides a larger micro contact patch for

Bridgestone says the performance of the new Battlax radial has been verified on the track in wet and dry conditions. Testing by Bridgestone versus S20 EVO shows the advantage of greater stability with S21 clocking significantly higher cornering speeds at entry, keeping a sharper line and leaving with faster acceleration, trimming average lap times by almost two percent.

Overall, Bridgestone claims the S21 represents a real step forward in dry performance - particularly cornering stability and handling – while delivering an additional 30 percent increase in mileage. extra tree planting for every set of Ecowing tyres sold in Australia.

“Kumho aims to be socially responsible and as part of that we aim to limit the impact we have on the environment. By partnering with Greenfleet, Kumho is giving something back to the environment and offsetting the impact tyres have on it,” said David Basha, National Marketing Manager of Kumho Tyre Australia.

Kumho Tyre has been praised for its environmental efforts in reducing its emissions. Through upgrading production facilities and adopting renewable energy strategies, 13,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions have been reduced over the past five years, while the company is continuously working on the development of more efficient fuel saving tyres.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Dunlop launches the RoadSmart III D unlop has announced the arrival of the newest member of the Sportmax family, the Dunlop RoadSmart III. The Dunlop RoadSmart III takes over from the hugely successful RoadSmart II. Designed to offer high mileage, comfortable feel and excellent handling, Dunlop says the RoadSmart III reduces rider fatigue, while the MT3 multi-compound technology allows for superior grip in the wet or dry, no matter how steep the lean angle.

Dunlop says the key features of the RoadSmart III include: • Superior ride comfort has been achieved by the introduction of the Slim High Bead Apex-2 along with the HES-JLB (joint-less construction), which combine to help the tyre absorb bumps, while the Camber thrust Tuning Technology (C.T.T), combined with new pattern design, construction and profile increases the handling performance.

• The MT3 (multicompound technology) results in a high wearing centre compound developed with abrasion-resistant high-molecular weight polymer to increase tyre life and significantly improve the wet grip as well as low temperature grip. The shoulder compound is comprised of a grip-focused micro-particulate silica compound. The result is up to a 44% increase in mileage compared to the previous product that retains excellent corner grip.

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Dunlop says the RoadSmart III reduces rider fatigue, while the MT3 multi-compound technology allows for superior grip in the wet or dry, no matter how steep the lean angle.

• Wet grip is further enhanced by the cross groove tread patterns that increase the level of drainage and ensure a firm contact with the road.

Pricing: Fronts start from RRP $179.95 Rears start from RRP $249.95

Yokohama Rubber to release tyre with Chelsea Football Club logo

Y

okohama has announced it will launch a tyre called the ‘BluEarth-A AE50 Chelsea FC Edition’ with the Chelsea Football Club logo on the sidewall. The tyre commemorates the partnership with the Barclays Premier League champions Chelsea FC, which began in July 2015. Following release in Japan on October 29, the tyre will be released gradually in Europe, Asia and South America, with methods of release differing from country to country. It will be available in three sizes: 225/45R17 94W, 205/55R16 91V and 195/65R15 91H. The commemorative ‘BluEarth-A AE50 Chelsea FC Edition’ tyre was developed based on the high-performance, fuel-efficient BluEarth-A AE-50.

The sidewall design was modified to include large, complementing logos of both Yokohama and Chelsea FC. Yokohama says that, like the BluEarth-A AE-50 from which it was developed, the new tyre delivers excellent fuel efficiency along with maneuverability and handling.

Seeking to raise global awareness and sales of its Yokohama brand, Yokohama Rubber in February 2015 concluded a five-year partnership agreement with Chelsea FC, which enjoys the support of legions of fans around the world.

Car enthusiasts get track time with Toyo T

oyo Tires and the NSW 86/ BRZ Club encouraged enthusiast drivers to put their tyres’ performance to the test, hosting a free track day at Sydney Motorsport Park in November.

The event removed the barrier of entry fees, with participation free of charge for vehicles equipped with Toyo Proxes tyres.

Toyo Tires also provided set-up and tyre management advice alongside professional drivers, honing participants’ racing technique.

Five groups of social motorsport and club enthusiasts were welcomed for the friendly Supersprint format competition. Drivers challenged each other for the fastest times around the 13 corners of SMSP’s Amaroo South Circuit, building to a final shoot-

out of winners from each group.

“We organised the track day as a way to thank Toyo’s users,” said Toyo Tires Australia Marketing Manager Jose Angeles. “The track day is part of our renewed commitment to grass roots automotive clubs and enthusiasts.

“We aim to spark or nurture passion for motorsport by letting our users experience the full performance of the Proxes range and improve their driving skills in a controlled environment.”

The complete range of Michelin Classic Tyres now available. Fresh stock at competitive prices.

NSW 86/BRZ Club President Sho Mai thanked Toyo Tires for the event.

“On track is where our cars come alive and where we can push them, and our skills, to their limit,” he said.

“We saw lap times improving all day on the twisty South Circuit. Informed tyre choice can make all the difference to the amount of fun you have on track, and Toyo getting involved with the club has made a massive difference.”

The Toyo Tires track day followed a technical night the tyre-maker hosted in August where information on tyre safety, motorsport tyre management and compound choice was discussed in detail with NSW 86/BRZ club enthusiasts.

To get involved in future motorsport events and to review the full range of Toyo Tires head to www.toyotires.com.au

www.stuckey.com.au www.michelinclassic.com 15

INDUSTRY NEWS

Solar-powered journey reaches

Bridgestone’s ambassador for the 2015 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, Shane Jacobson, hitched a ride from Darwin Airport in the University of NSW’s solar car – Sunswift eVe

Nuon Solar Team’s car, Nuna8

T

he Dutch Nuon Solar Team, with their car Nuna 8, won the 2015 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in October, becoming back-to-back champions and taking their sixth win since the event’s inception in 1987.

Solar Team Twente, also from the Netherlands, reached the finish line second, closely followed by Tokai University from Japan.

The World Solar Challenge is aimed at promoting research on solar-powered 16

“This year, 42 teams endured heat, wind and humidity to make the 3,000km journey from Darwin to Adelaide.”

cars and showcasing the development of advanced automotive technology.

Every two years, teams from leading international universities and technical institutes, together with private entrepreneurs, come together to test and promote this automotive evolution.

This year, 42 teams endured heat, wind and humidity to make the 3,000km journey from Darwin to Adelaide, using only solar energy to power their vehicles.

thrilling conclusion in Adelaide

Kensuke Kobayashi, Director Sales & Marketing; Andrew Moffatt, Bridgestone Australia & New Zealand Managing Director; Shane Jacobson, Bridgestone ambassador; and Joanne Denley, Director Corporate Services & Risk Management, with the Nuon Solar Team

Bridgestone Australia and New Zealand Managing Director Andrew Moffatt said the passion and dedication displayed by the teams was outstanding.

“Seeing what these young people can do with technology has been absolutely incredible,” said Mr Moffatt.

“They dedicate two years of their lives to this event and the knowledge they gain and friendships they make are invaluable to their development. They’re creating the sustainable solutions

“Congratulations to Nuon Solar Team and everyone who participated in the 2015 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge”

we’ll need in the future and are truly pushing the boundaries of innovation.

“Congratulations to Nuon Solar Team and everyone who participated in the 2015 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge – you are all winners in our eyes. Thank you also to the many volunteers who have helped make this event such a success.”

In addition to being the title sponsor, continued on page 18

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Tokai University’s car, Tokai Challenger, was fitted with Bridgestone Ecopia with ologic technology tyres

Bridgestone supplied specially produced tyres to 19 teams that participated in this year’s event. The Ecopia with ologic technology tyres were tested during the 2013 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge and the same technology is now on Australian roads – with Bridgestone’s Ecopia EP500 tyres fitted as original equipment on the BMWi3.

Bridgestone Australia’s support of the 2015 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge was part of a companywide corporate social responsibility initiative called Tomorrow Matters.

“At Bridgestone, our commitment to the community extends far beyond providing safe, quality tyres. We believe it’s our responsibility

“This year’s Bridgestone World Solar Challenge has proven once again that when we invest in technology and our young people in a meaningful way, great things can be achieved.”

Andrew Moffatt, Bridgestone Australia & New Zealand Managing Director; Tokai University’s solar team; Chris Selwood, Bridgestone World Solar Challenge Event Director; and Shane Jacobson, Bridgestone ambassador

to do what we can to create a bright and sustainable future for generations to come,” said Mr Moffatt.

“This year’s Bridgestone World Solar Challenge has proven once again that when we invest in technology and our young people in a meaningful way, great things can be achieved.”

Nuon team takes Solar Challenge win running on Michelin

O

ther tyre manufacturers were involved in the World Solar Challenge, with Michelin supplying tyres to the winning Nuon Solar Team, “For Michelin the event is about fostering and supporting the innovation and development of more sustainable technologies,” said Damien Hallez Technical Communication

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for the Michelin Group.

“Ensuring sustainable mobility through innovation, whilst not sacrificing other areas of performance is at the heart of Michelin’s mission globally. Tyre characteristics such as fuel efficiency, longevity, and a quiet, comfortable and above all, safe ride is key for everyone’s future.

“Having designed our first

dedicated solar car tyre, the Michelin Radial, nearly 20 years ago, Michelin has always been at the forefront of innovation in this area. Our commitment to sustainability is why we have been creating fuel efficient tyres since before any standards were in place, and why our R&D teams continually push the boundaries to achieve this goal.”

AUTO NEWS

Australia welcomes Alfa Romeo’s 4C Spider

Yokohama Rubber develops simulation technology enabling innovative rubber material design

Y

T

he stunning Alfa Romeo 4C Spider has arrived in Australia.

Featuring a state-of-the-art, Formula 1-inspired carbon fibre monocoque chassis and other advanced technologies, the 4C Spider’s performance is every bit as good as its dropdead gorgeous appearance.

An innovative, all-aluminium 1750cc turbocharged and intercooled engine with dual (intake and exhaust) continuous variable-valve timing (VVT) delivers 177kW and 350Nm of torque. Coupled to a construction of lightweight 19

carbon fibre and aluminium, the engine gives the Spider’s performance numbers that are supercar-quick with a top speed of 257km/h and 0-to-100km/h acceleration in 4.1-seconds.

“Arriving just in time for the Australian summer, the 4C Spider is the modern embodiment of Alfa Romeo’s proud heritage,” said FCA Australia President and CEO Pat Dougherty. “A stunningly designed, blisteringly fast and utterly thrilling convertible supercar, the 4C Spider delivers open-air excitement like no other.”

okohama has developed a simulation technology for ‘multi-objective design exploration’ of rubber materials.

Yokohama says it aims to create tyres that meet the highest standards in areas that normally are at odds with each other, such as low fuel consumption and safety or ultralight weight and high rigidity.

The new simulation technology creates rubber material models based on virtual morphologies.

Yokohama says the new technology can complete hugescale computations consisting of one billion elements in just 75 minutes enabling it to create huge-scale simulation models.

The new technology is the latest in a series of innovative technologies developed

by Yokohama Rubber.

For example, Yokohama Rubber’s proprietary aerodynamic simulation and aero-acoustic noise simulation technologies have led to the discovery of tyre designs featuring dimples or fins that better control the airflow around the tyre, thereby contributing to greater fuel efficiency.

Yokohama says its past use of multi-objective design exploration to determine the optimal structural design for its tyres has produced some useful results, including the development of its flagship low fuel consumption tyre, the “BluEarth-1 EF20.”

19

AUTO NEWS

Mission E gets green light from Porsche

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he first 100 per cent electrically powered Porsche is on its way.

Porsche’s supervisory board has given the green light for the Mission E project with the vehicle due to be launched at the end of the decade.

The Mission E concept car celebrated its premiere at the Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA) in September.

The four-door car with four individual seats has a system power output of over 600 hp (440 kW), can achieve acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h in under 3.5 seconds and has a range of more than 500 kilometres. Charged via an 800-volt

20

“We are resolutely taking on the challenge of electric mobility.” charger unit specially developed for the car, Porsche says the lithium-ion batteries integrated within the vehicle floor can have enough power for 80 per cent of its range after just 15 minutes. The vehicle can optionally be ‘refuelled’ wirelessly by induction via a coil set into the garage floor.

Porsche says it will be investing around 700 million euros in its main

site in Stuttgart. Over the next few years, a new paint shop and a new assembly plant will be built. The existing engine factory will also be expanded for the production of electric motors. In addition, the existing body shop will be enlarged.

“We are resolutely taking on the challenge of electric mobility,” said Chairman of the Porsche Executive Board, Dr. Oliver Blume.

“Even with solely battery-powered sports cars, Porsche is remaining true to its philosophy and offering our customers the sportiest and technologically most sophisticated model in this market segment.”

New Mustang arrives in Australia

T

he first batch of Ford’s iconic Mustang has arrived in Australia.

The first customer cars landed in the country at the beginning of December, arriving at Melbourne’s Appleton Dock.

Demand for the all-new Mustang has exceeded all expectations. Ford says its dealers across Australia have been inundated with inquiries and demand for the all-new Mustang Fastback and Convertible, with the order bank sitting around 4,000 vehicles with more than 80 per cent paid deposits. These orders account for the first full year of vehicles to be sold in Australia through 2016.

“We are simply overwhelmed and humbled by the reception to Mustang thus far, which is probably our closest equivalent to the Beatles first trip to Australia,” said Ford President and CEO, Graeme Whickman.

“The Mustang also punctuates a landmark year for Ford where we launched a huge number of new vehicles – including the Australiandesigned and developed Everest SUV and Ranger – while investing more locally than any other automaker with more than $300 million in R&D alone.”

After Mustang pricing was confirmed early this year, Ford saw a spike in interest and deposits, with more than

“We are simply overwhelmed and humbled by the reception to Mustang thus far, which is probably our closest equivalent to the Beatles first trip to Australia.”

20,000 people putting their hands up to be kept informed about the new car.

As in North America, overwhelming early interest has been in the V8 GT models, with 86 per cent of customers favouring the V8.

However, once the initial order banks are filled, Ford expects the EcoBoost models to be popular with customers who value performance but have an eye on fuel efficiency.

A similar situation surrounds the Fastback and Convertible split. There has also been more initial demand for the Fastback over Convertible, with around 88 per cent of Australian customers opting for the Fastback.

21

PRODUCTS

New compact Narva work lamps as bright as ever T he latest additions to the Narva L.E.D work lamp range further expands the brand’s model offering in this product segment, ensuring that there’s a Narva work lamp to suit just about every application.

The first of the new lamps is square-shaped and features 4 x 5W ‘Cree’ L.E.Ds producing 1800 lumens of bright white light while only drawing 1A of current at 9-32V. The second addition to the range is a compact round lamp, powered by 8 x 3W ‘Cree’ L.E.Ds shining 2000 lumens with only 1.2A current draw at 9-32V. Both lamps have flood beam light patterns producing a wide spread of useable light, whilst their low current draw enables the use of multiple lamps simultaneously without burdening vehicle batteries and electrical systems.

The new lamps feature a

The new heavy duty, high-powered work lamps are backed by Narva’s 5-year L.E.D warranty and are also ‘RFI-safe’. . .

Cooldrive adds water pump range

C

oolDrive has added the new Jayrad Water Pump range to its array of automotive parts.

Available as replacement parts for most of Australia’s biggest selling models, Jayrad water pumps feature high-quality castings and bearings to withstand the daily punishment of continual use.

CoolDrive now stocks the 30 most popular replacement water pumps to fit passenger cars

22

The Jayrad Water Pump range is now available from CoolDrive Distribution.

including the Ford Falcon, Holden Commodore, Toyota Camry and Hyundai Excel, and fourwheel-drives such as the Toyota

tough, powder coated, die-cast aluminium housing with polycarbonate lens, while mounting hardware is manufactured using high quality stainless steel for reliability and longevity on the work site.

For ease of installation and reliability, the lamps are equipped with in-built Deutsch connectors which also provide fully sealed, uninterrupted operation.

The new heavy duty, highpowered work lamps are backed

by Narva’s 5-year L.E.D warranty and are also ‘RFI-safe’, so they will not interfere with radio or communication equipment.

Available from leading transport, automotive and four-wheel drive outlets throughout Australia, the work lamps are ideal for demanding applications where mounting space is limited.

Land Cruiser and Hilux, Nissan Patrol and Holden Jackaroo.

Water pumps to fit older model vehicles are a feature of the Jayrad range, with CoolDrive poised to respond quickly to add additional models to its product selection to meet specific demand. Each Jayrad water pump is warranted against defects in workmanship or materials for a period of two years or 40,000km from the date of sale, whichever occurs first, unless otherwise stated – assuming correct initial fitment.

Ryco releases filter kits for Japanese trucks

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yco has announced the release of convenient and attractively priced filter kits to further complement the Ryco Japanese Truck program.

Initially, eleven kits for Isuzu trucks have been launched covering oil and fuel filters to suit the 4-cylinder N series and 6-cylinder F Series, plus selected Giga models.

These will be followed by kits to suit other popular Japanese commercial vehicle applications.

With cost savings in kit form over the individual Ryco oil and fuel filters, Ryco says the kits will prove popular for many workshops and truck operators, including fleets, providing both cost savings and convenience for the mechanic on the job.

“The Ryco Japanese Truck Filter Catalogue has been a great success with truck operators, workshops, resellers and distributors,” said Product Manager Ross Cunningham. “Ryco filters are designed to meet or exceed Original Equipment specifications and the range available to suit Japanese commercial vehicles already covers more than 140 specific filters.”

For further information in the Ryco Japanese Truck filter kit program or a copy of The Ryco Book for Japanese Trucks, contact your local Ryco stockist, Ryco representative or the Ryco Customer Service Team on 1800 804 5421 or visit www.rycofilters.com.au

Projecta releases most advanced dual battery charger P rojecta has unveiled its IDC25 ‘Intelli-Charge’ 25A 9-32V, 3 Stage DC/Solar Battery Charger, providing operators with a host of intelligent features, for safer and more reliable charging.

The unit allows owners to reap the benefits of a 3 Stage charge of 12V secondary/auxiliary deep cycle batteries, while ‘on the go’.

A key feature is the unit’s ability to charge simultaneously from both solar and alternator (9-32V) inputs without the need to manually switch from one power source to the other.

Projecta says the IDC25 can also function as an MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) solar controller up to 25A, maximising the power generated from solar panels.

And when operating on vehicle power, the unit offers dual charging modes for compatibility with both ‘smart’ and conventional alternators.

The charger supports multichemistry batteries including

GEL, AGM, WET and Calcium. As an added bonus, the unit has periodic equalisation capability to remove acid stratification from calcium batteries.

Assisting the IDC25’s performance is an over temperature protection function, which sees the charger automatically adjust its output based on battery temperature.

Other safeguards include over and under voltage protection, which shuts down the charger if voltage problems are detected, and sparkfree protection which prevents the charging process from beginning unless the load is securely connected.

Further aiding the IDC25’s performance and longevity is its sturdy construction which makes it shock, vibration and dust-proof. Sealed to IP67, the unit is also water resistant.

If mounted under the bonnet, included in the package is additional wiring to set-up an in-cabin L.E.D. indicator to remotely display charging and fault status. Also assisting installation is labelled and pre-wired cabling.

Projecta’s new ICD25 Charger is backed by a 2-year warranty and can be purchased at all leading transport, automotive and four-wheel drive outlets throughout Australia.

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MOTORSPORTS

Rosberg takes victory in final F1 race of 2015

N

ico Rosberg won the final Grand Prix of the Formula One season in Abu Dhabi, defeating his Mercedes teammate, and recently-crowned World Champion, Lewis Hamilton for the third race in succession and, in the process, scoring his sixth victory of the season.

Starting from pole, Rosberg was always in control and though Hamilton was able to close

“This is the perfect ending to the season for me something I hoped for so much after a tough year.”

the gap to less than 7 seconds towards the end of the race, Rosberg was able to extend the gap to 8.2 seconds by the flag.

Kimi Raikkonen took third spot for Ferrari while Sebastian Vettel came up from 15th on the grid to take fourth place.

“This is the perfect ending to the season for me - something I hoped for so much after a tough year,” said Rosberg. “To

ABU DHABI RACE RESULTS 1

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes

2 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes 3 Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 4 Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 5 Sergio Perez, Force India 6 Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull

2015 DRIVERS STANDINGS 1

24

Lewis Hamilton, GBR, Mercedes

381

2 Nico Rosberg, GER, Mercedes

322

3 Sebastian Vettel, GER, Ferrari

278

4 Kimi Raikkonen, FIN, Ferrari

150

5 Valterri Bottas, FIN, Williams

136

finish with three wins in a row is awesome. Today was really a perfect race. The start, the pit stops and the tyre management were all really good and I felt like I had it all under control.

“I would love to start the 2016 season tomorrow - but I know that's not possible. It’s strange, I’m enjoying the moment so much - but I’m thinking already very much of next year, what I could change and where I can improve.”

For his part, Hamilton recognised the season had ended a touch disappointingly but the World Champion was looking forward to what 2016 had to offer.

“I haven’t finished the season as strongly as I started it – but what an incredible year it has been,” he said.

“This team has done a remarkable job, so a big thank you to everyone back

New 2016 tyre regulations for Formula one NEW REGULATIONS The new regulations will apply only to the slick tyres. The rules regarding intermediate and wet tyres remain unchanged.

With the introduction of the new ultra soft compound (which uses purple markings) the total number of slick compounds rises to five.

“To finish with three wins in a row is awesome. Today was really a perfect race.”

by Pirelli can be of two different compounds, from the three that have been nominated for the race weekend. These sets will be identical for each team.

The remaining 10 sets can be chosen by each team, from the three compounds nominated for the race weekend.

barcode, as is the case currently.

The choices made by each team can vary for each of its cars: so each driver within a team can have a different allocation.

The tyres will be distinguished by different coloured markings on the sidewalls, as is currently the case.

DURING THE RACE

PRE-RACE TYRE NOMINATIONS AND PREPARATIONS In consultation with the FIA, Pirelli will decide in advance which three compounds can be used at each race, and communicate this information to the teams.

The total number of sets that can be used during practice, qualifying and racing remains the same as it is currently: 13.

Pirelli will nominate two mandatory race sets for each car. Furthermore, one set of the softer compound will have to be kept for use in Q3 only.

The two mandatory sets chosen

at the factories. I wouldn’t be standing here as World Champion without them. I’ll go away now for the winter aiming to come back stronger, fitter and straight on top of our new car for 2016.”

It has been a tough 2016 for Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo, who drove his Red Bull to a 6th place finish in Abu Dhabi.

“I think we ended the season well and feel I got the most out of the car, so I’m leaving the season more happy than I was a few races ago,” he said. “I think we ended the season with a lot more feeling and confidence in the chassis.

This season has made us stronger as a unit and I’m happy to move forward with these guys to be better next year.”

The 2016 Formula One season starts with the Australian GP on March 20.

The teams will make their choices within a deadline set by Pirelli. They will communicate their choices to the FIA, which will in turn tell Pirelli how many tyres to produce.

The choices for each car will remain secret until 2 weeks before the race.

If a team does not meet the deadline, the choice will be made by the FIA. Once the choices for each car have been made, the FIA will continue to assign the tyres randomly via a

Teams will still have to give back tyres according to a certain schedule, but they can decide which tyres to give back at the following times: • One set after the first 40 minutes of FP1 • One set at the end of FP1 • Two sets at the end of FP2 • Two sets at the end of FP3 The two mandatory sets nominated

by Pirelli cannot be given back during practice and must be available for use in the race. At least one of these two sets must be used during the race – but the teams can decide which one.

The top 10 at the end of qualifying will still have to give back the set of the softer compound nominated for Q3, and start the race on the tyres with which they set their fastest time in Q2 (the same rule as is the case currently).

All other drivers will be able to use the set that is saved for Q3 during the race.

25

MOTORSPORTS

Renault announces return to Formula 1 in 2016 R

enault has announced it is to return to Formula One as a full team in 2016.

Following the September announcement of the signing of a Letter of Intent to acquire the Lotus outfit, teams at Renault continued to evaluate the possibility of a return to Formula 1 with particular attention paid to competing successfully with its own team in a financially sound way starting in 2016.

“Renault had two options: to come back at 100 percent or leave,” said Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO, Renault.

“After a detailed study, I have decided that Renault will be in Formula 1, starting 2016. The final details supplied

by F1’s main stakeholders gave us the confidence to accept this new challenge. Our ambition is to win - even if it will take some time.”

As a full team, Renault will take maximum benefit from its victories, with the company saying that the payback as an engine supplier proved to be limited.

The company says that work continues on finalising the terms of the acquisition of the Lotus F1 Team in the shortest timeframe possible. The principal contracts 26

“Renault had two options: to come back at 100 percent or leave. . . I have decided that Renault will be in Formula 1, starting 2016.”

Renault says its decision to continue its involvement in Formula 1 is confirmation that it sees motorsport as an essential part of the brand’s identity.

were signed on December 3, 2015.

Renault has had uninterrupted involvement in Formula 1 for almost 40 years. The company has taken part in more than 600 grand prix, claiming 168 race wins, 12 Constructors’ titles and 11 Drivers’ crowns.

Renault says its decision to continue its involvement in Formula 1 is confirmation that it sees motorsport as an essential part of the brand’s identity.

The company said that in addition to attracting many customers, Formula 1 also fuels employee motivation and serves as a showcase for the technological expertise that Renault dials into its products for the benefit of its customers.

Renault says Formula 1 is a means for it to accelerate development and remain at the forefront of the sport’s technological progress, allowing it to build bridges between the advanced technologies seen in the world championship and its road cars, particularly in the fields of electric and hybrid vehicles. Consistent with its commitment to F1, Renault will develop its R.S. range by stepping up investment in order to be active on every continent and in even more segments with vehicles that meet the needs of their different markets. s

Porsche and Webber win WEC world championship M

ark Webber, along with teammates Timo Bernhard and Brendon Hartley, has won the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) after taking fifth place in the six-hour race in Bahrain.

In a thrilling last round of the championship, Bernhard, Hartley and Webber, in the No. 17 Porsche Hybrid, had started with a 13-point lead ahead of the Audi trio of André Lotterer, Marcel Fässler and Benoit Tréluyer, but half-an-hour into the race the number 17 car had to come into the pits for a long stop after Bernhard reported a loss of engine power.

After a near 10-minute stop for repairs, Bernhard rejoined the race four-and-a-half laps behind the leader and the team had to go flat out to try and catch up from the back of the pack. At 52 laps, and still four laps down on the leaders, Bernhard handed over to Hartley who drove the car through to lap 114 and into fifth position.

Webber then took over for the final stint of the race.

An unscheduled pit stop on lap 158 with actuator problems provided a brief scare but Webber was able to rejoin the race without losing position and would go on to cross the line in fifth.

With the second Porsche car of Romain Dumas (FR), Neel Jani (CH) and Marc Lieb (DE) taking the race victory, and denying the Audi team the win, Webber and his teammates were assured of enough points to secure the title.

Understandably, Webber was delighted with the result.

Top: A delighted Mark Webber after securing the WEC World Championship with Porsche

FIA WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP (WEC) FINAL STANDINGS DRIVERS 1 Bernhard/Hartley/Webber (DE/NZ/AUS), Porsche

166

2 Lotterer/Tréluyer/Fässler (DE/FR/CH), Audi

161

3 Dumas/Jani/Lieb (FR/CH/DE), Porsche

138.5

4 Di Grassi/Duval/Jarvis (BR/FR/GB), Audi

99

5 Davidson/Buemi (GB/CH), Toyota

79

MANUFACTURERS 1

Porsche

344

2 Audi

264

3 Toyota

164

“Today clearly shows the qualities of the team,” said the victorious Aussie. “We have had some very smooth days this year, but we executed the victories with clinical precision.

Today was about fighting as hard as possible. You saw the spirit of the mechanics; you saw the spirit of the drivers. I cannot thank the mechanics enough. The pit stops we had in the garage were extremely stressful. It’s amazing that we were able to win the world championship under pressure like this. I am so proud to be world champion with Timo and Brendon and with Porsche. It was a massive day for the team!”

All the six Porsche 919 Hybrid works drivers will be racing again in the 2016 Championship. s 27

MOTORSPORTS

Jorge Lorenzo the new MotoGP World Champion Image: Francesc Juan / Shutterstock.com

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Jorge Lorenzo won the Valencia MotoGP and the World Championship

“There was a lot of pressure during this race, so I just focused on going as fast as possible even though the bike was sliding around and moving a lot.” own exceptional performance was enough. After an outstanding qualifying round, Lorenzo started the race from pole position and led every lap.

“There was a lot of pressure during

Image: Rainer Herhaus / Shutterstock.com

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amaha’s Jorge Lorenzo has been crowned the MotoGP World Champion for the third time, leading from the outset in the season’s final race in Valencia to record victory and to become only the third rider in the premier class to overturn a points deficit in the last round to become champion.

More than 100,000 fans packed into the circuit to see Lorenzo take the race win ahead of Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa with less than a second separating the top three.

But though the action at the front was exciting, it was the progression of Valentino Rossi that had the crowd enthralled.

Going into the race, Rossi led the championship by seven points.

However, with Rossi’s demotion to the back of the grid thanks to his clash with Marc Marquez at the Malaysian MotoGP, Lorenzo looked favourite to snatch the title away from the Italian – if Lorenzo were to win the race, Rossi had to finish second to secure the title himself.

As it turned out, Rossi’s heroic ride came to nothing and Lorenzo’s

this race, so I just focused on going as fast as possible even though the bike was sliding around and moving a lot,” said Lorenzo. “Yamaha made an unbelievable bike and my team this year was perfect and I am very proud to have won this world title for Spain.”

Lorenzo ended the 2015 World Championship on 330 points, with seven wins during the season, and finished just five points ahead of Rossi.

Marquez, last year’s MotoGP World Champion, ended the season third place on 242 points.

The end of the season also sees the end of Bridgestone’s time as sole supplier to the MotoGP. Michelin will now take on that role.

“It has been a fantastic season with record crowds, close racing and many memorable moments and everyone at Bridgestone is proud to have been involved in this special championship,” said Hiroshi Yamada – Manager, Bridgestone Motorsport Department. “For the whole time during our role as Official Tyre Supplier to MotoGP we’ve pushed the boundaries in terms of technical development and I am happy that our efforts have helped make this MotoGP season reach new heights in terms of rider performance and safety.”

“I would like to thank the manufacturers, teams, Dorna, IRTA, the FIM and all MotoGP fans for your support.”

2015 MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS 1 Jorge Lorenzo, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP

330

2 Valentino Rossi, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP

325

3 Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team

242

4 Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda Team

206

5 Valterri Bottas, FIN, Williams

136

ark Winterbottom has won the 2015 V8 Supercars Championship after the final round of the season in Sydney.

The Pepsi Max Prodrive Team driver clinched the title ahead of nearest rival Craig Lowndes and after a decade racing full-time in the V8s, takes home his first title.

It was also his Prodrive Racing team’s first Championship win.

Interviewed after the final race, Winterbottom was in a jubilant mood and let it be known that there was some celebrating to be done.

“It’s awesome to put the number one on the car,” he said. “I’ve just got to thank everyone who supported us - all the sponsors, they’ve been amazing, all the partners at home . . . thank you to them.

“It’s awesome. We pack up, go home, we celebrate and enjoy it … I’m over the moon, I’m going to hit the party tonight and tomorrow night and the

Image: ChameleonsEye / Shutterstock.com

Winterbottom claims V8 drivers’ title with Red Bull the champion team M Mark Winterbottom

Red Bull Racing Australia took out the Team title

next night and just celebrate this!”

Winterbottom’s team wasn’t, however, able to pick up the Team Championship.

The Red Bull outfit of Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup claimed that honour.

Lowndes, who finished second to Winterbottom in the race for the Championship, was philosophical about his season, acknowledging the work of his team.

“I got a reasonable start today and really had to be patient,” he said after finishing sixth in Race 3 in Sydney. “To finish sixth from where we started was a pretty good effort and it was a great team effort to win the Teams Championship.

The guys have worked really hard all year and it’s a credit to them.”

Casey Stoner to return to Ducati as brand ambassador and test rider

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wo-time MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner will return to Ducati next year in the role of brand ambassador and test rider.

Stoner won the 2007 MotoGP World Championship on the Ducati Desmosedici GP with ten wins in eighteen races - results that also helped the Italian manufacturer to clinch the Constructors’ title. Between 2007 and 2010, Stoner won a total of 23 races for Ducati.

The 30-year-old Queenslander will become brand ambassador for the Bologna-based manufacturer and, as part of the agreement, will

appear at the 2016 edition of World Ducati Week, scheduled to run from July 1-3. He will also take part in a selected number of MotoGP tests for the Ducati Team next year.

“For 2016 I am very excited to

announce that I will again be joining the Ducati team!” said Stoner. “I have so many great memories working with the people and the brand of Ducati and the opportunity to work with them again is something very special. Gigi Dall’Igna has brought with him a new approach and I’m looking forward to assisting the team, Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone however I can. The Ducati brand and the Ducati fans have been such a big part of my career and my life, so it will be really great to reunite the relationship and start another chapter with this iconic brand.”

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WORLD NEWS UK A new study from Juniper Research in the UK forecasts almost 20 million fully autonomous or self-driving vehicles on the road by 2025, with consumer adoption set to take off in 2021. The company says that, driven by increased safety and convenience for drivers, development has progressed to live trials, with North America and West Europe set to become the first to witness driverless cars in use on the road.

The research found that in the interim, consumer usage of ADAS (Advanced Driving Assistance System) technologies such as adaptive cruise control and automated braking will become key. It argued that these systems will serve to prepare drivers for the psychological change from the role of driving a car to operating a driverless car.

The research, Autonomous Vehicles: Adoption, Regulation & Business Models 2015-2025, finds that although the market has progressed to live trials, a discernible monetisation strategy has not become evident.

Stakeholders are currently investigating multiple business models with manufacturers expected to engage in product licensing, self-production or open-sourcing the systems.

Juniper Research also ranked the top 5 most promising players in the driverless car sector.

They were scored on a number of key factors such as: live trials; miles tested on road; technology development; project scale and scope; future potential and market opportunities.

The results were as follows: 1 Google 2 Volvo 3 Daimler 4 Tesla 5 Apple Google was ranked as the most promising player having been in development the 30

longest and having logged the highest amount of autonomous miles on public roads.

The research noted that concerns over the decisionmaking capabilities of these systems have been raised and questions have been asked about the decisions autonomous vehicles would take when presented with the ‘Trolley Problem’, where the autonomous car will be forced to choose between two disastrous outcomes.

The Juniper study argued that the siloed nature of technology development requires stakeholders to collaborate and ensure a minimum level of safety for those in the hands of autonomous driving systems.

US The Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd., has announced that Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Virginia LLC (YTMV) - a US subsidiary that manufactures passenger car and light truck tyres in Salem, Virginia - has become a zero landfill operation.

According to Neil Dalton, Yokohama Corporation of North America director of environmental health and safety, “All waste generated at YTMV now goes to non-landfill options, such as recycling, reuse or energy recovery.”

To successfully achieve zero-waste-to-landfill status, YTMV has put in processes and practices that deliberately and significantly reduce waste.

“In order to be a zero landfill plant, it was important to understand as a company that you can’t throw anything away because there simply is no ‘away,’” said Dalton.

As of the start of 2015, YTMV had reduced its landfill waste output to 2% of all waste generated, and the facility reached the zero level in September.

The zero landfill initiative is part of Yokohama Rubber’s ongoing global environmental

mandate, set forth in the Company’s “medium-term management plan: Grand Design 100,” which sets standards for harmonising company-wide operations - from manufacturing to product design - with the environment.

GERMANY Apollo Tyres has announced the acquisition of Reifencom GmbH, one of the largest tyre distributors in Germany, for Euro 45.6 million. Reifencom GmbH has an online presence in 6 countries - Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and Denmark. In addition, it operates 37 stores and service centres across Germany.

Commenting on the acquisition, Neeraj Kanwar, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Apollo Tyres Ltd, said “The acquisition is a strategic fit in further growing our European business. It will enable Apollo to improve its mix of distribution channels in Germany and Europe and aid in increasing the visibility of Apollo and Vredestein tyres in the offline and especially the fast growing online retail space.”

The success of Reifencom GmbH is attributed to its highly efficient logistics system, which ensures that there is a guarantee of a high degree of availability of all kinds of tyres and rims, even during busy periods like spring and autumn.

With an objective to provide world-class products and services, and that too, at very competitive prices, Reifencom GmbH procures tyres and rims from leading manufacturers, thereby ensuring a high-level of quality. “It is our privilege to join hands with Apollo Tyres, where the team shares our passion for providing worldclass products and customer service,” said Olaf Sockel and Heiko Knigge, Managing Directors, Reifencom GmbH.

TURKEY Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) held an opening ceremony in October for the Group’s first tyre factory in the Republic of Turkey, incorporated as Sumitomo Rubber AKO Lastik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. (SAT), on the new factory’s grounds located in the Cankiri Province.

SRI President Ikeda and SAT President Fujimoto were joined at the opening ceremony by an audience of 1,200 local guests, including President Erdogan and other representatives of the national government, Ambassador Yutaka Yokoi of the Japanese Embassy to Turkey, Director-General Arda Ermut of the Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey, Governor Vahdettin Ozcan of Cankiri Province, Chairman Mustafa Ozcan of SRI’s joint-venture partner in Turkey, Abdulkadir Ozcan Lastik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., and many others.

In his speech, President Erdogan pledged that Turkey would “Spare no effort in supporting our Japanese friends,” and expressed his hope that the two countries “Would grow and develop

side by side.” Meanwhile, SRI’s President Ikeda spoke of his desire to “Contribute to the economic development of the nation of Turkey while preserving and cultivating the shared historical bonds that tie Turkey and Japan together.”

ARGENTINA Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, and Fate, the leading Argentine tyre manufacturer, have announced they have signed a letter of intent (LOI) to work together.

Initially, Fate will become a distributor of Cooper branded passenger, light truck and sport utility vehicle (SUV) radial tyres in Argentina, complementing Fate’s existing product portfolio. Over time, the two companies may also work together on a variety of potential cooperative ventures including tyre production, off-take arrangements, and possible cooperation on research and development activities. Among other products, Fate produces passenger, light truck, and SUV tyres as well as truck and bus radial (TBR) tyres at its facility

in San Fernando, Argentina. This plant produces approximately five million tyres per year. Cooper, together with its subsidiaries, has seven tyre manufacturing facilities on three continents, and sales and distribution networks around the world.

“Cooper is pleased to align with Fate, a highly respected and quality-focused tyre company with extensive reach in Argentina and throughout South America, as we continue to move forward with our strategic plan to grow our business in Latin America,” said Cooper Chief Operating Officer Brad Hughes.

“Fate is enthusiastic about the foreseen cooperation by complementing our already extensive portfolio of car, light-truck and SUV tyres with Cooper’s valuable range of products and its highly respected brand as it will have a positive impact on our sales network while further enhancing Fate’s industrial growth strategy,” said Fate Commercial Manager Miguel Canay. continued on page 32

Construction of Kumho’s first US tyre plant nears completion

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umho’s first North American tyre plant is set for completion in the early part of 2016, underlining the company’s aim of strengthening its position in this key automotive market as well as its overall plans for global expansion.

Kumho has already invested $420 million in the factory, which is sited in Macon, Georgia, close to Atlanta Airport (the busiest in the world). Once complete, the massive building will cover 21 acres and produce some 4 million tyres per annum. Around 90 staff are already engaged on site – a figure that’s set to rise to 400 by the time of next year’s launch.

North America already accounts for 20 percent of Kumho’s global tyre sales, and its new plant is intended to focus on UHP products for premium

brand vehicles, thereby elevating the brand’s status within the US market.

The aim is also to strengthen Kumho’s OEM business in the region and even before the advent of the new factory, the company has negotiated significant new contracts with the surrounding prestige car makers.

Assuming successful sales for Kumho and a continued improvement in the US economy, two further

phases are planned for the Macon factory, offering the potential to as much as triple its capacity.

Kumho has already demonstrated its commitment to the North American market, where it can boast a broad distribution network and steady gains in the business of tyre replacement.

It has also worked hard on brand awareness and has for many years been involved in sports sponsorship within the region - Kumho is an official supporter of the NBA (National Basketball Association) and is a former backer of the LA Lakers and Miami Heat (two of the leading NBA teams); not to mention the New York Jets – a top member of the National Football League.

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WORLD NEWS EUROPE Michelin is to undertake a reorganisation of its activities in the UK and Italy in response to market changes. The company said that the ‘competitive environment and the economic crisis of the past few years have lastingly affected the European tyre market and, in particular, the market for new and retread truck tyres.’

The plans will include some site closures and further investment to modernise production facilities and logistic networks.

In the UK the company says that ‘to adapt to changing markets and consolidate its presence . . . Michelin will be refocusing its activity on growth segments of the Passenger car and Light truck tyre, and retread markets. 85 million Euros will be invested in this strategy before 2020.

In Italy the Group plans to invest 180 millions Euros to significantly develop Italy’s car, van and truck tyre volumes by 2020 by reinforcing its Cuneo and Alessandria sites.

THAILAND Yokohama’s tyre manufacturing and sales subsidiary in Thailand, Yokohama Tire Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (YTMT), held an event at its plant site on October 20 to inform the public about its activities to promote biodiversity inside the site. The event was attended by local community leaders and government officials, as well as staff responsible for the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities of other companies with plants in the same industrial complex, and representatives from local media.

The attendees received reports about the results of biodiversity monitoring on the plant site by YTMT employees as well as an explanation about plans to build a biotope to sustain and increase the diversity of life forms on the plant grounds. The visitors were also given a tour of the site by YTMT employees.

The event was attended by YTMT President Toru Nakamura and members of Yokohama Rubber’s CSR & Environmental Affairs Dept.

Recognising the need to monitor the effect of its manufacturing activities on the local environment in 32

order to contribute to the creation of a better environment, YTMT began biodiversity preservation activities in September 2013.

Its first step was to conduct surveys of water quality and the current state of its local environment in order to determine the optimal location for its activities. The surveys focused on (1) birds, which survive on insects and fruits in the forest and therefore are a good barometer of the richness of the local ecosystem, (2) butterflies, which are easily affected by environmental changes, and (3) dragonflies, which thrive near ponds and wetlands and therefore provide insights into water quality.

By capturing specimens or taking photographs of these creatures, YTMT employees built a database on the types of living creatures in the area, their food sources, habitat, and life cycles. The employees will use this data to better understand the biodiversity of YTMT’s plant site, consider means for preserving and increasing the diversity of life forms in the area, and then create a biotope that facilitates realisation of this goal.

UK Kumho has now had its products selected for fitment to the new Jeep Renegade. Kumho Crugen Premium KL33 tyres are being delivered in sizes 215/60R17 100V XL and 225/55R18 98H to FCA’s plant at Melfi in the Potenza province of Italy, where the new Renegade is being manufactured.

Specially developed for the particular needs of the ever-expanding SUV sector, the Kumho Crugen Premium KL33 provides an impressive degree of comfort at speed, coupled with good handling characteristics and low levels of noise. Balanced traction characteristics are guaranteed in both wet and dry conditions.

Commenting on this latest OE contract for the Korean tyre manufacturer, Frank Gilsdorf, the engineer responsible for the contract at the Frankfurt-based Kumho European Technical Centre said: “Working in close co-operation with our client FCA, we have adjusted the Crugen Premium KL33 to the specific needs of the new Jeep Renegade. This latest

Continental Tyres UK website goes live with new look

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ontinental Tyres has given its Tyre Division website, www. continental-tyres.co.uk, a complete makeover and aligned the relaunched version with global sites. “Increasingly our customers are turning to the Internet for information about our tyres,” explains Stephan Meier who heads up eBusiness EMEA at Continental. “With our new-look website we are aiming to offer visitors even more targeted and rapid access to the information they want, providing them, for example, with better and faster online advice on selecting the right Continental tyres for their needs.”

One key feature of the new website is the tyre and dealer search function. But the new navigation and content concept also caters to other user groups, such as the dealers themselves, who can make use of features including a new download area, and journalists, for whom photo galleries and embedded videos facilitate the composition of their articles.

In addition, Continental has opted for a responsive design with an all-new colour scheme and the revamped site has been optimised for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.

contract from FCA underlines the good level of co-operation that exists between our two companies and the consistently high quality of our tyres.”

US BFGoodrich Tires claimed is 27th overall SCORE Baja 1000 race win in November and swept the season of the SCORE International Desert race schedule for the second consecutive year.

BFGoodrich placed the top 11 overall finishers at the iconic off-road race, including the top 10 Trophy Truck finishers, the top seven Class 10 finishers and secured 10 class titles.

As the final race of the SCORE season, the Baja 1000 determined many

of the class season championships, including the overall Desert World Championship crown.

BFGoodrich Performance Team member Rob MacCachren and co-driver Andy McMillin took the top overall position to repeat as champions at the 48th running of the Bud Light SCORE Baja 1000, which is the longest desert race at 828 miles across the Baja California peninsula.

BFGoodrich has amassed 86 total wins on the Baja peninsula, has won the last 10 consecutive SCORE-sanctioned races and 20 of the last 21 major North American desert races.

“Just a few years ago, some in the industry were ready to shovel dirt on the grave of BFGoodrich Tires when

it comes to desert racing,” said Chris Baker, motorsports director for BFGoodrich Tires. “Instead, the finish-line crowd saw the parade of race vehicles on BFGoodrich Tires crossing the line with class championships. We painted the desert in title-winning performances.

We also achieved some new aspirations as well — taking a season championship in Class 19 with a new race tyre and sweeping the Spec Trophy Truck season.

“On top of that, BFGoodrich swept the overall winners’ positions for the entire SCORE series for the second straight year. That makes an emphatic statement about our commitment to racing,” said Baker.

Yokohama’s “ADVAN” tyres selected for Asia’s top formula race series

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he Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., has announced that its “ADVAN” racing tyre has been selected as sole control tyre for the Japanese Super Formula Championship Series from 2016. The supplied tyres will be the “ADVAN A005” for use in dry conditions and the “ADVAN A006” for use in wet conditions. Both tyres use Yokohama’s proprietary Orange Oil compounding technique to

achieve outstanding environmental performance while ensuring superior grip performance. The control tyre sizes will be 250/620R13 for front tyres and 360/620R13 for rear tyres.

The Japanese Super Formula Championship Series is Asia’s highest level racing series for formula cars.

The series began in 1996 as the Japanese Championship Formula Nippon series and was relaunched in

2013 as the Japanese Championship Super Formula in recognition of the series’ growing reputation around the world, especially in Asia.

Yokohama Rubber has been an enthusiastic supporter and participant in formula car races in Japan since 1980’s and, next year, Japan’s top formula car racing series will be run on Yokohama tyres for the first time in 20 years.

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