Falken Motorsports has confirmed its lineup and strategy for the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring, the centrepiece of the season. The Japanese tyre brand will compete with a teal and blue Porsche 911 GT3 R marked as car number 44, driven by a carefully selected international team. Klaus Bachler from Austria, Dutch racer Morris Schuring and German drivers Sven Müller and Tim Heinemann share the cockpit of the familiar teal and blue machine.

The team’s confidence stems from strong performances in the ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Endurance Series opener. After a weather delay, Müller and Heinemann claimed an impressive second place overall, providing valuable data and momentum. Falken is prioritising driver stability, with Bachler remaining a core member since 2017 despite never having won the 24-hour race itself.

Schuring adds youthful ambition, having already secured an overall victory in last year’s season debut with Falken alongside Müller. Müller himself brings deep technical expertise and longevity, while Heinemann rounds out the squad as a proven fast man on the demanding Nordschleife. Other Falken tyre users include the Subaru WRX, an Opel Corsa, a BMW M4 GT4 and two SRS Team entries comprising a BMW 330i and a Toyota Supra.

Max Kruse Racing will enter five cars, including two Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II machines and three VW Golf GTI Clubsport 24h vehicles. Among their drivers are former professional footballer Max Kruse and Fabian Vettel, the younger brother of former Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel.

Falken has been a near-constant presence at the Nürburgring 24-hour race since 1999. The traditional Falken Drift Show takes place on Friday 15 May at 7:30 pm on the Müllenbachschleife. Away from the track, a darts show match between Max Hopp and Martin Schindler occurs on 16 May from noon to 1:00 pm, followed by autograph sessions.

The main race starts on Saturday 16 May at 3:00 pm, with live coverage available on RTL Nitro and the official 24h streaming platform. Falken Motorsports will also offer ongoing updates and behind-the-scenes material through its social media and digital channels.

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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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