Yokohama’s Motorsports Plans for 2012
March 27, 2012
Tokyo - The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., announced today its 2012 motorsports plans. Seeing motorsports as a key aspect in its efforts to develop its global tire business, the company will strive to increase the degree of recognition of the Yokohama tire brand through a wide range of motorsports activities in Japan and around the world. In the process, it will also contribute to the growth, development, and revitalization of the auto industry and motorsports market.
Major activities include the following:
FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC)
As the official tire supplier, Yokohama has been providing control tires for the WTCC since 2006. Since 2010, the company has supplied ADVAN eco racing tires, combining a solid grip with improved environmental performance. The 2012 WTCC will consist of twenty-four rounds staged in twelve events in 11 countries on 4 continents.
WTCC (2011)
Macau Grand Prix (China)
For the 30th consecutive year since 1983, Yokohama will provide control tires for the Formula 3 competition, the main event of the Macau Grand Prix. Many of the cars in concurrent events at Macau, including the WTCC, will also be running on Yokohama tires.
Macau Grand Prix (2011)
FIA Formula 2 Championship
Yokohama will supply ADVAN eco racing tires as the sole supplier for the 2012 Formula 2 Championship series authorized by the FIA. The championship has been held since 2009 and utilizes identical cars designed by the famed F1 team Williams Grand Prix Engineering.
Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC)
Last year’s winner of the IRC Production Cup, Toshihiro Arai, will participate again in the 2012 series on the Tommi Mäkinen Racing team. With his new teammate, Jarkko Nikara, Arai is aiming to win the class for the second consecutive year. Arai and Nikara will drive SUBARU WRX STI R4 equipped with ADVAN rally tires.
SUBARU WRX STI R4 (2011)
SUPER GT
Yokohama will participate in the GT500 class of the SUPER GT series (the most popular motorsport event in Japan) with two cars–the D’station ADVAN GT-R (KONDO RACING) and the WedsSport ADVAN SC430 (LEXUS TEAM WedsSport BANDOH)–aiming for nothing less than the championship. In the GT300 class, European super cars and Japanese GT cars engage in fierce competition, and Yokohama will provide ADVAN racing tires to multiple teams, aiming to win that class for the third consecutive year.
KONDO RACING (2011)
All Japan Rally Championship
Partnering with the ADVAN-PIAA LANCER (ADVAN
PIAA Rally Team) and eight-time champion Fumio
Nutahara, Yokohama aims to retake the championship in the
JN4 class. It will also provide ADVAN rally tires to many
teams, including CUSCO Racing, seeking championships in
each class.
ADVAN PIAA LANCER (2011)
All Japan Gymkhana Championship
With the high performance of the ADVAN A050 and ADVAN NEOVA AD08 as its principle weapons, Yokohama aims to surpass its achievement of last year, when it won championships in eight classes.
All Japan Dirt Trial Championship
With its ADVAN rally tires, Yokohama is looking for even more wins.
Japanese Formula 3 Championship
As it did last year, Yokohama will be the sole supplier of ADVAN racing tires for the 2012 Japanese Formula 3 Championship, where top drivers from both Japan and overseas challenge each other in a thrilling competition.
Super Taikyu /Other Races
Yokohama will provide ADVAN eco racing tires for the Super Taikyu series as control tires. A new GT3 class established in the series starting this year is drawing much attention. Additionally, it will supply ADVAN racing tires as control tires for the Super FJ, thus, together with F3, extensively serving the middle formulas.
■ Europe
For the VLN Endurance Championship Nürburgring (ten races) and the 24-hour Nürburgring in Germany, and the Total 24 Hours of Spa at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, Yokohama will supply tires to promising teams, including Black Falcon (Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3) and Aston Martin Racing (Aston Martin Vantage GT3), seeking the overall championship. It will supply control tires for the ADAC GT Masters, the largest GT championship in Germany, drawing more than 40 entrants, in addition to the German Formula 3 Championship. The company will also provide ADVAN eco racing tires for the European Touring Car Championship (ETCC) and touring car championships in Russia and Scandinavia.
■ North America/Central and South America
In the United States, Yokohama will participate in the GT class of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) with Alex Jobs Racing (Lotus Evora) to seek the championship. In addition to the GTC class of the series, it will supply ADVAN eco racing tires as control tires for the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge (U.S.A.) and the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge (Brazil). With its GEOLANDAR brand of tires for SUVs, Yokohama will also participate in off-road races, including the Baja 1000. Its "Team Yokohama EV Challenge" racing team will continue to take on the challenge of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, which is marking its 90th running this year.
■ Asia/Oceania
In China, in addition to the China Touring Car Championship (CTCC) for which the company has supplied ADVAN eco racing tires as the control tires since 2010, Yokohama will provide tires to Formula Pilota. It will also be the sole tire supplier for the 2012 and 2013 series of GT ASIA, travelling to Malaysia, Japan, and Macau. In the rally category, it will provide tires to PERTAMINA CUSCO RACING and many other teams at the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), which it is aiming to win. Yokohama will similarly seek wins in the Malaysian Rally Championship and the other local rallies in each country. In endurance races, it will participate in the Malaysia Merdeka Endurance Race (MMER), in which the team that Yokohama supported won the overall title last year, seeking a second consecutive win. In Australia, the company will supply ADVAN eco racing tires as control tires for V8 UTE, a racing series for pickup trucks.
■ Kart Races
In Japan, as it did last year, Yokohama will participate in the KF1 category of the All Japan Karting
Championship, and will continue to supply control tires to the FP-Junior CADET category of the
Junior Karting Championship. In Asia, the company continues to supply control tires to the Asian
Karting Open Championship. It will also provide tires extensively for circuit races in the Philippines,
Indonesia, and elsewhere.
This year, Yokohama will again support teams using its tires, helping them to achieve the best possible
performance. Yokohama will use the data and experience it gains through motorsports activities in the
development of tires for consumers. Information will be updated as necessary on the relevant races at
Yokohama’s motorsports web site (http://www.advan.com/english/motor_sports/index.html).
2012 Events CalendarFIA World Touring Car Championship （WTCC） |
|||
| Rounds | Date | Circuit | Venue |
| 1 & 2 | 3/10 - 3/11 | Autodromo di Monza | Italy |
| 3 & 4 | 3/31 - 4/1 | Circuit Ricardo Tormo | Spain |
| 5 & 6 | 4/14 - 4/15 | Circuit de Marrakech | Morocco |
| 7 & 8 | 4/28 - 4/29 | Slovakia Ring | Slovak Republic |
| 9 & 10 | 5/5 - 5/6 | Hungaroring | Hungary |
| 11 & 12 | 5/19 - 5/20 | Salzburgring | Austria |
| 13 & 14 | 6/2 - 6/3 | Autódromo Internacional do Algarve | Portugal |
| 15 & 16 | 7/21 - 7/22 | Autódromo Internacional de Curitiba | Brazil |
| 17 & 18 | 9/22 - 9/23 | Infineon Raceway | U.S.A. |
| 19 & 20 | 10/20 - 10/21 | Suzuka East Circuit | Japan |
| 21 & 22 | 11/3 - 11/4 | Shanghai International Circuit | China |
| 23 & 24 | 11/16 - 11/18 | Circuito da Guia | Macau (China) |
| Macau Grand Prix | |||
| Date | Event | Venue | |
| 11/15 - 11/18 | 59th Macau Grand Prix | Macau (China) | |
| FIA Formula 2 Championship | |||
| Rounds | Date | Circuit | Venue |
| 1 & 2 | 4/13 - 4/15 | Silverstone | U.K. |
| 3 & 4 | 4/27 - 4/29 | Algarve | Portugal |
| 5 & 6 | 5/25 - 5/27 | Nürburgring | Germany |
| 7 & 8 | 6/22 - 6/24 | Spa-Francorchamps | Belgium |
| 9 & 10 | 7/13 - 7/15 | Brands Hatch | U.K. |
| 11 & 12 | 7/20 - 7/22 | Paul Ricard | France |
| 13 & 14 | 9/7 - 9/9 | Hungaroring | Hungary |
| 15 & 16 | 9/28 - 9/30 | Monza | Italy |
| SUPER GT | |||
| Rounds | Date | Circuit | Venue |
| 1 | 3/31 - 4/1 | Okayama International Circuit | Mimasaka City, Okayama |
| 2 | 5/3 - 5/4 | Fuji Speedway | Oyama Town, Shizuoka |
| 3 | 6/9 - 6/10 | Sepang International Circuit | Malaysia |
| 4 | 7/28 - 7/29 | Sports Land SUGO | Murata Town, Miyagi |
| 5 | 8/18 - 8/19 | Suzuka Circuit | Suzuka City, Mie |
| 6 | 9/8 - 9/9 | Fuji Speedway | Oyama Town, Shizuoka |
| 7 | 9/29 - 9/30 | Autopolis International Racing Course | Hita City, Oita |
| 8 | 10/27 - 10/28 | Twin Ring Motegi | Motegi Town, Tochigi |
| JAF-CUP | 11/16 - 11/18 | Fuji Speedway | Oyama Town, Shizuoka |
| ADAC GT Masters | |||
| Rounds | Date | Circuit | Venue |
| 1 & 2 | 3/31 - 4/1 | Oschersleben | Germany |
| 3 & 4 | 5/5 - 5/6 | Zandvoort | The Netherlands |
| 5 & 6 | 6/9 - 6/10 | Sachsenring | Germany |
| 7 & 8 | 7/14 - 7/15 | Nürburgring | Germany |
| 9 & 10 | 8/11 - 8/12 | Red Bull Ring | Austria |
| 11 & 12 | 8/25 - 8/26 | Lausitzring | Germany |
| 13 & 14 | 9/15 - 9/16 | Nürburgring | Germany |
| 15 & 16 | 9/29 - 9/30 | Hockenheimring | Germany |
| American Le Mans Series （ALMS） | |||
| Rounds | Date | Circuit | |
| 1 | 3/12-3/17 | Sebring International Raceway | |
| 2 | 4/13-4/14 | Long Beach | |
3 |
5/10-5/12 | Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca | |
| 4 | 7/6-7/7 | Lime Rock Park | |
| 5 | 7/20-7/22 | Mosport International Raceway | |
| 6 | 8/2-8/4 | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course | |
| 7 | 8/16-8/18 | Road America | |
| 8 | 9/1-9/2 | Baltimore | |
| 9 | 9/13-9/15 | Virginia International Raceway | |
| 10 | 10/17-10/20 | Road Atlanta | |
| GT ASIA | |||
| Rounds | Date | Circuit | Venue |
| 1 | 5/25-5/27 | Sepang International Circuit | Malaysia |
| 2 | 6/8-6/10 | Sepang International Circuit | Malaysia |
| 3 | 7/13-7/15 | Fuji Speedway | Japan |
| 4 | 8/17-8/19 | Suzuka Circuit | Japan |
| 5 | 9/28-9/30 | Autopolis International Racing Course | Japan |
| 6 | 11/15-11/18 | Circuito da Guia | Macau (China) |
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