Falken Motorsports has confirmed its continued commitment to the Nürburgring endurance scene, announcing its participation in both the full ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Endurance Series season and the prestigious ADAC RAVENOL 24h Race in 2026. The team, a favourite among fans, will once again field its distinctive teal-and-blue Porsche 911 GT3 R, which will carry the iconic number 44 on its doors.

Following a remarkably dominant 2025 campaign, the squad’s objective for the upcoming season is to maintain its recent trajectory of success. The past year saw Falken achieve an impressive tally of five overall NLS victories, a run that included four one-two finishes, alongside 12 podium appearances and two pole positions. This consistent high performance secured the NLS Speed Trophy for the second consecutive year, underscoring the team’s status as one of the most successful and well-supported outfits on the grid. This marks a continuation of a longstanding relationship with the circuit, as the brand has been a near-constant presence at the 24-hour race since 1999, becoming an integral part of both the competitive and wider event atmosphere.

Driver lineup continuity remains a cornerstone of the team’s strategy, with a blend of returning talent and established experience. Austrian Klaus Bachler, a proven winner on the Nordschleife with the squad, makes his return to the fold. He will be joined by Morris Schuring, who impressed by taking a victory in his very first race for Falken at the start of 2025. Further strengthening the roster are Sven Müller, a longstanding team member who also secured victory at last year’s NLS opener, and Tim Heinemann, a mainstay since 2022 who has built a formidable reputation for pace around the legendary circuit. This quartet combines extensive Nordschleife expertise with a proven winning mentality.

Beyond the driver changes, Falken will maintain a consistent visual identity, with the Porsche’s familiar livery remaining largely untouched. The number 44, a tribute to the brand’s first German headquarters in Offenbach, will also stay. In parallel with its own racing efforts, Falken will extend its technical partnership with Max Kruse Racing into 2026. The collaboration, active since 2021, has yielded numerous class successes on the Nordschleife. This commitment to the venue is further solidified by a renewed sponsorship agreement with the 24-hour race itself, which now runs through to 2028, while the Falken brand will also remain visible across competitor vehicles in the Nürburgring Endurance Series.

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Kuraray America, Inc. marked National STEM Day on 8 November by spotlighting a community educational event that brought together 15 of its volunteers and students from the Houston Japanese Supplementary School at San Jacinto College for a day of hands-on exploration and discovery.

Participants engaged in activities illustrating how science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) converge in chemical manufacturing. Experiments with superabsorbent polymer beads explored chemistry and material properties, while a tour of the college’s facilities introduced industrial equipment. Students also learned about water filtration and distillation processes and how mathematical concepts underpin scientific and engineering applications.

One student showed particular interest in the distillation tower, linking the experience to the Kuraray Group’s contributions to everyday life and its mission of achieving for people and the planet what no one else can. The event also benefited KAI volunteers, who shared technical knowledge, exchanged perspectives and learned alongside potential future scientists and engineers.

Kuraray America thanked Reiko Fuwa and Tomohiro Tani for coordinating the visit, Hans Vandommele for sharing his expertise and all 15 KAI volunteers. The company also expressed appreciation to San Jacinto College for facility access and to the Houston Japanese Supplementary School students for their curiosity, enthusiasm and thoughtful questions.

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Liberty Tire Recycling attended the 2026 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, held from 3–6 November at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The automotive aftermarket event, one of the industry's largest, drew over 160,000 attendees from the automotive, tyre and transportation sectors to review new products, technologies and business opportunities.

The Lakin Tire brand, a consistent SEMA exhibitor, once again used the show to reinforce industry relationships and present Liberty's tyre collection, recycling and sustainable resource management capabilities. Personnel from Grade/Used Tires, Commercial Truck Tires, Metals, Recycling and Collection, together with corporate and regional leadership, met customers, suppliers and industry professionals from around the world.

The booth received existing and prospective customers from numerous tyre and automotive segments during the week. Costco Wholesale Corporate Office, United Tires and UTU Wholesale were among the organisations that stopped by to examine Liberty Tire's products, services and nationwide reach. The company viewed the event as an effective forum for monitoring emerging market trends and demonstrating its position in recycling and sustainability, alongside its focus on innovation, workforce development and circular economy principles.

A memorable moment came when a high school shop teacher and students, attending through a special educator programme, toured the booth to learn about tyre recycling and industry operations. Liberty team members provided industry insights, outlined career pathways and acknowledged educators' contribution to developing future skilled trades professionals, supplying tyre inflation gauges for classroom use.

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Laufenn, Hankook's associate brand, earned a ‘Good’ ratingwith an overall score of 2.2 for its G Fit 4S in the Auto Bild Allrad all-season SUV tyre test published on 8 October 2026 (issue 41). The tyre competed credibly against 11 rivals from established premium marques, finishing competitively in a 12-strong field.

Wet handling proved a particular strength, with the G Fit 4S collecting the second-highest rating shared with other models. Aquaplaning resistance also impressed, as the tyre held its line until stability began to fade at roughly 100 kmph (62 mph). In snow, it recorded the third-shortest braking distance, matching two other contenders.

Testing spanned snow, wet and dry disciplines, each weighted equally in the final ranking, with a third-generation MINI Countryman serving as the test vehicle. Snow assessments were carried out in New Zealand, while European venues hosted the wet and dry evaluations. The jury's conclusion underscored Laufenn's value-focused positioning, finding the G Fit 4S a solid option for cost-conscious buyers.

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Tyres Europe has underscored that tyres qualify as fully recyclable under ISO 22628:2002 and UN Regulation No. 133, describing the established methodology as a robust foundation for assessing tyre recyclability. The organisation recently set out its position on the matter.

The distinction between recyclability and actual recycling rates is central to the group's argument. Recyclability refers to the technical potential of a product and its materials to be recycled, while the real rate hinges on treatment capacity and demand for secondary raw materials. Regulatory frameworks should therefore separate the two concepts clearly and align with an internationally recognised standard.

Tyres consist of rubber compounds, chemical additives and reinforcing textile and steel cords, and at end of life they are separated into rubber, textile and steel fractions, all of which existing mechanical or chemical routes can recycle. Mechanical processing yields rubber granules and powders usable as secondary raw materials across many applications, recovered textiles can be further processed and valorised, and cleaned recovered steel can re-enter metal recycling and steelmaking.

Tyres Europe pledged continued cooperation with policymakers and value-chain partners to strengthen circularity and maximise recovery of valuable tyre materials in Europe, with the full paper available on its website.

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