Donington Park witnessed a spectacular gathering of truck and racing enthusiasts at this year’s Convoy in the Park event, where Giti Tire emerged as the focal point of excitement. With over 750 attendees from across Europe, the event showcased a captivating display of truck races, highlighted by the debut of legendary Honda TT racer John McGuinness MBE in the world of truck racing.

The star-studded event saw John McGuinness, renowned for his achievements in the world of motorcycle racing, take the wheel in his first-ever truck races. Behind the Giti-branded Team Oliver truck, McGuinness participated in all four races of The International Truck Prix (ITP). Despite challenging wet conditions, he impressively held his own in front of a massive crowd of more than 100,000 fans.

A notable figure in the truck racing scene, Martin Gibson, Giti Tire’s Manager of the EU Testing Centre and Motorsport UK, returned to the ITP races. He drove the Giti MAN TGX truck, continuing his success from the previous year with an impressive performance that included three podium finishes, securing second and third place.

Simultaneously, the fourth round of the British Truck Racing Championship (BTRC) captivated the audience with five exhilarating races. The Giti MAN TGX, driven by Michael Oliver, and the VOLVO VNL truck, skillfully piloted by Stuart Oliver, stood out on the track adorned in vibrant Giti Tyre Motorsport colours.

Notably, Giti Tire is the Official Partner and Exclusive Tyre Supplier to the BTRC. All competing trucks are equipped with Giti Race-Tuned v1 global competition truck tyres in size 315/70R22.5. The superior quality of these tyres was on full display as the Giti MAN TGX recorded its fastest lap times of the weekend during the final race, showcasing their durability and performance.

McGuinness said of his experience: “It’s certainly very different to racing a motorbike, but I have had great support from Team Oliver and Giti Tire, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Thanks to everyone who came out to watch the team compete.” 

Convoy in the Park drew large crowds of truck and racing aficionados. The event treated attendees to a mesmerising array of truck displays, manufacturer exhibits, stunt shows, live music, and entertainment for children, creating a truly unforgettable experience.

Manish Rathor, Product Marketing & Technical Service Manager for Giti Tire MEA (FZCO), Dubai, said: “We would like to express our sincere gratitude and thanks to the entyre team of Giti UK and Giti EU for inviting the Middle East team to experience the largest truck racing event in the UK. 

“Middle Eastern customers and officials were all thrilled after seeing the excellent performance of Giti truck racing tyres on the circuit and wish to thank the entyre team for the hospitality and organising such a great event.” 

“What a fantastic weekend, the hospitality from Giti was second-to-none and the racing was so exciting for the family, they can’t wait for next year,” said Scott Butler, Depot Manager at Sol Tyres. 

Jake Whitwell, Business Development Manager at Dexel, added: “What a great event and very well represented by Giti Tire. My Customers all left with a smile on their faces from a truly fantastic day, including the racing of course.” 

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Pirelli has introduced the P Zero R, an ultra-high-performance tyre created specifically for the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+, unveiled as the first Official FIA F1 Safety Car fitted with fully variable all-wheel drive. The tyre blends qualifying-level dry performance with precise steering response while maintaining safe wet handling and was engineered to deliver consistent performance during Formula 1 Safety Car deployments, where precision, reliability and control are essential.

The dual-compound tread and tread pattern details, developed through virtualisation, allow high performance in both dry and wet conditions. Co-developed with Mercedes-AMG engineers in Affalterbach and refined using virtual simulation models central to Pirelli's development process, the compounds, land-to-groove ratio and tread channel widths work in synergy with the vehicle's suspension geometry and camber. This optimises the contact patch, maximising grip and steering precision while enhancing high-speed stability without sacrificing wet performance.

The project forms part of Pirelli's role as Formula 1's sole tyre supplier since 2011, a position recently confirmed by the FIA and Formula 1 and extended through to 2028. The relationship stretches back to the inaugural race in 1950, and Pirelli has accompanied the championship's technical evolution, reaching 500 Grands Prix in 2025. Experience gained on track, including in extreme conditions, gives Pirelli a laboratory for innovation whose findings also feed into road tyre development.

Designed to put the power of its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine onto the road, the 21-inch P Zero R supports an engine producing 450 kW (612 hp) and 850 Nm of maximum torque. The car offers high performance and drivability thanks to the fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel-drive system, which demands tyres capable of coping with rapid load transfers while letting the car exploit its dynamic potential.

Extensive testing at the Nürburgring and Nardò involved AMG brand ambassador and Official FIA F1 Safety Car Driver Bernd Mayländer and other experienced Safety Car drivers, who praised the tyre's consistency and grip across a wide range of conditions. The first P Zero R developed specifically for a Mercedes-AMG, it confirms a longstanding collaboration built on co-development from the earliest stages of vehicle development, resulting in more than 150 fitments. The tyre carries the MO1 sidewall marking, identifying it as specifically developed for this model.

The previous Official FIA F1 Safety Car from the Affalterbach performance and sports car brand, the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series, which served from 2022 to 2026, also ran on Pirelli P Zero tyres. The latest milestone in the partnership came at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, where the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 4MATIC+ fitted with Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tyres set a record of 7:32.070 minutes, claiming the title of fastest vehicle in its segment on the legendary German circuit.

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Continental has secured two fresh original-equipment approvals from Porsche. Both the SportContact 7 and the newly introduced SportContact 7 Force have been sanctioned for the Panamera G3 II, while the WinterContact TS 860 S is recommended by Porsche for the Cayenne E4 in colder conditions. The approvals cover 21- and 22-inch sizes bearing XL markings that denote greater load capacity.

The SportContact 7 serves as a summer tyre engineered for highly responsive and precise handling. Its tread design and rubber formulation deliver strong grip and brief braking distances on dry and wet surfaces alike, ensuring notable stability at elevated speeds. The SportContact 7 Force, meanwhile, represents a high-performance extension of Continental's summer range.

Developed as a specialised variant of the SportContact 7, the Force version addresses elevated performance and stability requirements. An adaptive tread pattern paired with a refined rubber compound allows for more accurate handling and efficient power transfer under extreme conditions. It blends track-derived capability with suitability for daily driving.

For the Cayenne E4, the WinterContact TS 860 S has been tailored to high-powered, handling-oriented SUVs. It offers short braking distances and precise dry-road handling, alongside solid snow performance for dependable control and stability. Its low rolling resistance may also help extend electric vehicle range.

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Pirelli has been selected as the exclusive supplier of 22-inch tyres for the new BRABUS BODO CABRIOLET, developing a bespoke P Zero for the open-top Gran Turismo. The same tyre is also available for the Coupé variant. The German luxury brand required a solution balancing grip at high speeds with comfort and precision.

BRABUS collaborated closely with Pirelli engineers throughout development, tailoring the tyre to the supercar’s chassis, wheel dimensions and V12 engine, which propels the 2+2-seater to 360 kmph. Attention centred on construction, tread pattern and compound to achieve high-speed performance, steering precision, stability and comfort.

Advanced virtualisation and simulation techniques allowed Pirelli to optimise the tyre’s characteristics before an intensive joint testing programme at Germany’s Papenburg track, where handling and high-speed behaviour were evaluated and fine-tuned for the BODO CABRIOLET.

Aesthetic details also mattered: a high-contrast sidewall reinforces the car’s bold character. The P Zero carries a ‘BB’ marking denoting bespoke development and is offered in 285/30 ZR22 XL front and 335/25 ZR22 XL rear sizes, delivering power and torque without sacrificing Grand Tourer comfort.

Joern Gander, CTO, BRABUS, “The successful development of this 22-inch tyre combination, created together with Pirelli, underlines our ambition to perfectly harmonise maximum performance, precision and driving dynamics with the BRABUS BODO, right down to the smallest detail.”

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NEXEN TIRE will supply its ROADIAN GTX tyres as original equipment for the hybrid version of Kia’s mid-size SUV, the Sorento, following the vehicle’s 2027 model-year update. The refreshed model introduces a new 20-inch ROADIAN GTX lineup alongside the existing 17-inch size.

Both sizes will be offered on the Sorento Hybrid. The 17-inch fitment is designated for vehicles sold in Korea and North America, while the 20-inch version will be available for those sold in Korea. The ROADIAN GTX is an SUV-specific tyre engineered for strong braking, long tread life, quiet operation and ride comfort.

A specialised compound supports consistent performance across diverse temperatures, while a zigzag tread pattern promotes even pressure distribution and reduces vehicle pull. Enhanced mileage extends replacement intervals, addressing hybrid SUV durability and efficiency needs. The tyre has earned OE fitments on global SUV models including the Kia EV5 and EV6, Renault Filante and Jeep Cherokee. NEXEN TIRE plans to deepen partnerships with automakers across Korean and North American markets, expanding worldwide OE supply using technology proven with European premium automakers.

John Bosco (Hyeon Suk) Kim, CEO, NEXEN TIRE, said, "This expanded OE supply demonstrates that our technological excellence and product quality continue to earn recognition in the global market. We will continue to strengthen our partnerships with global automakers and expand our OE tyre supply going forward."

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