With their racing background, Aditya Patel and Armaan Ebrahim understood the shortcomings for aspirational racing drivers in India and wanted to create a racing series to help drivers progress through the ranks towards international championships. The duo's first foray into hosting championships was in 2018 with the X1 Racing League, a franchise-based racing event. The X1 Racing League aimed to make the sport fun and aspirational in many ways like the IPL. Marred with technical difficulties, the racing turned out to be dull and the event failed eventually.

But backed by two new investors, Navjeet Gadhoke and Akhilesh Reddy, and all the learnings from the failure of the X1 League, the duo is back to hosting duties as they introduced India’s first FIA certified championships. Hosted by Racing Promotions Private Limited (RPPL), the brainchild of Patel and Ebrahim, the racing season will consist of the Formula Regional Indian Championship (Formula 3 equivalent) and Formula 4 Indian Championship to nurture young drivers and help them in their journey towards F1, the pinnacle of motorsports.

Talking about the lessons learnt from the shortcomings of the X1 Racing League, Aditya Patel, Director, RPPL, said, "The biggest issue we faced was with the reliability of the cars itself. To overcome any technical problems, we have purchased 15 cars each for the two championships. Apart from that, we are better aware of sponsor management and are in talks with multiple sponsors for fuel, oil and tyre, rather than focusing on just one. Unlike other sports, racing allows companies to equip the cars with their products, which in turn helps their marketing.”

A lack of proper FIA backed championship has always failed to create an impact for aspiring young drivers on the international stage. Set to make motorsport aspirational, Patel and Ebrahim set their sight towards creating a framework for racing in India by receiving FIA certification for the championship. Talking about the need for an FIA certification in India, Patel said, "After getting new investors on board during the pandemic, we came up with a plan. The plan was to create a ladder to Formula 1 to make the sport aspirational to youngsters. We want to help young drivers with a stepping stone after karting to make a career in racing. Unless youngsters see a career path in front of them, large scale racing events are not going to be successful in India.”

Racing will take place over five race weekends. Each race weekend will host three races, two practice sessions and a qualifying session. Premier racetracks like the MMRT in Chennai, Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore and Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in Greater Noida have been selected to host the racing event. In addition to the three racetracks, RPPL has created a brand new purpose-built street circuit in Hyderabad. This will be the first championship in the country to race on a street circuit. Explaining the decision to host the street circuit in Hyderabad, Patel said, "The reason for selecting Hyderabad for our street circuit was the city's automotive culture. The city boasts of a lot of motorsports fans and is a potential destination to scout for our sponsors. In addition to all this, the support provided by Akhilesh Reddy, our sponsor from Hyderabad, will help in smooth operations. Hence, we selected Hyderabad over other destinations.”

Racing will start at the BIC on 25 February 2022 and then continue for the next three weekends at Hyderabad, Kari Motor Speedway and MMRT before coming back to Hyderabad for the finale on 25 March 2022.

These one make  championships will consist of 15 drivers (national and international) competing in cars supplied by Prema Powerteam and powered by Alfa Romeo 1.8-litre ATM AR-F3R turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 275 hp. The car has a top speed of 250 kmph and can carry 100 litres of fuel. Shod with sticky rubber, these cars produce a high level of downforce through the carbon fibre front wing and rear wing and diffuser sufficient enough to set the Indian race tracks on fire. In addition to the cars, Prema Powerteam will also supply mechanics to service the cars during race weekends. In addition to the mechanics supplied by Prema, RPPL plans to create a team of junior mechanics who can work with the mechanics supplied by Prema and gain experience. In future, the organisers plan to use this opportunity to provide work experience to graduates through partnerships with different engineering institutes.

After receiving tremendous response for the announcement of the championships,  RPPL is in the process of finalising the selection process for the 30 drivers, Throwing light on the likely selection process, Patel said, "Since the announcement, we have received a lot of requests for F4 along with a handful of enquires for the Formula Regional. So based on the enquiries, we will look at the driver's profiles and based on their experience, physical fitness and track record, we will select the 15 for the championships. We want both the championships to include international drivers. So once things materialise, we will come up with a vetting process and select a mix of national and international drivers for the championships. At the moment, it looks like there will be more international talents in the Formula Regional championship and less in the F4 championship."

Besides racing, RPPL is also looking at providing mentors to young drivers through experienced international racers like Jehan Daruvala, Arjun Maini, Narain Karthikeyan and more. These drivers can transfer the knowledge gained in their international racing career to help young talents in developing the skills required to compete at the highest level.

Patel then went on to explain the costs involved in racing and RPPL’s plans to bring cost down. He said, "While costs for the Indian championships are undecided, a rough estimate to participate in a similar championship is around EUR 200,000. Our aim with RPPL is to subsidise racing to the masses with the help of our sponsors. This will help bring more talents into the limelight and fulfil the dream of many.”

Together with the main championship events, RPPL will also run a rebadged version of the X1 Racing League called the Indian Racing League. This franchise-based racing series will be run using single-seater racing cars supplied by Italian manufacturer Wolf Racing. The racing format will be similar to the one used for the X1 Racing League but will be free of all the technical snags that surfaced during the first time. To help overcome the technical issues, RPPL has purchased 15 single-seater racing cars from Wolf Racing, which will be owned by the franchises at the end of the racing season.

So the stage is set. With three new exciting championships in the pipeline, the Indian racing scene will be changed forever. New teams, new drivers and a whole host of potential to become a spectacle racing event, the Formula Regional Indian Championship, Formula 4 Indian Championship and the Indian Racing League will create a legacy that will not only create racing drivers but also provide a learning ground for graduates and mechanics. In addition, the success of the championships can attract OEMs  to create racing schools across the country and deploy young driver programmes to transform motorsports into a mainstream career option for many. (TT)

Apollo Tyres Ltd has secured a one-season shirt-sleeve sponsorship agreement with AS Monaco, one of French football's most successful clubs, to increase awareness for its premium Vredestein brand.

This partnership will leverage Ligue 1's ranking as the fifth most watched football league in the world to raise awareness of Vredestein's award-winning products among a large audience in France and abroad. On November 22, AS Monaco's home league game against Brest will have the new sleeve branding for the first time. The Vredestein brand will be heavily promoted at Stade Louis-II for the 2024–2025 season, including on player sleeves and LED screens around the field. Exclusive social media initiatives will further help make the brand prominent, reaching a large and interested audience.

Yves Pouliquen, Vice President – Commercial, Europe, Apollo Tyres, said, “This partnership is an exciting opportunity to strengthen Vredestein’s presence in one of our key markets. AS Monaco’s rich history and commitment to excellence mirror our focus on performance and innovation. We look forward to building a successful relationship with the club and celebrating its achievements this season.”

Thibaut Chatelard, Marketing and Revenue Director, AS Monaco, said: “We are delighted to welcome Apollo Tyres and its Vredestein brand to the family of AS Monaco partners. This collaboration makes sense in view of the values we share, such as the constant pursuit of performance and excellence. There’s no doubt that this new support will be precious for the rest of our season, which promises to be thrilling.”

Nexen Tire, a leading global tyre manufacturer, has launched the Nexen N´Blue S tyre, adding to its range of summer tyres and providing drivers with advanced safety, energy efficiency and superior driving stability in wet and dry conditions.

Developed using highly dispersed silica and equipped with an optimised structural design, the Nexen N´Blue S tyre provides reduced road noise and improved driving stability. The tyre features an innovative tread compound, formulated with hydrophilic fillers and microstructure-controlled polymers, and provides lower rolling resistance and exceptional dry and wet grip. The tyre also excelled in test results by demonstrating an 11 percent improvement in wet braking distance compared to its predecessor.

Apart from providing excellent performance, the Nexen  N´Blue S also scores high on the sustainability index. The tyre provides an eco-friendly solution for environmentally conscious drivers by minimising fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The Nexen N´Blue S summer tyre is available in 58 sizes, which makes it compatible with different types of vehicles.

Kumho Tire Vietnam Co., Ltd. is all set to expand its investment project in Binh Duong province of Vietnam, with the phase 3 of expansion commencing in early 2025. This was discussed at a recent meeting between Vo Van Minh, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee (PPC), and Kim Hyun Ho, General Director of Kumho Tire Vietnam Co., Ltd.

The meeting was held on 13 November at the Administrative Centre of Binh Duong province, as per an official statement. Apart from the company’s investment till date and the planned investment for phase 3, the two also discussed about the challenges and obstacles regarding procedures and processes to have more land funds to expand the manufacturing plant, along with taking measures to tackle the obstacles. Kim Hyun Ho also conveyed to the PPC Chairman that Kumho Tire Vietnam Co., Ltd. belongs to South Korea's Kumho Tire Group and is currently ranked 10th in the car tyre manufacturing industry.

The company had invested in a tyre manufacturing plant in My Phuoc 3 Industrial Park in 2007 with a total initial investment of USD 308 million, which was supplemented by another USD 300 million in 2021. This extended the factory scale to six hectares and increased the production capacity to 12.5 million tyres annually. With the expansion in early 2025, the company will raise its total investment to USD 908 million and increase the factory's production capacity to 17 million tyres annually. The expanded capacity is expected to be operational by early 2026.

Yokohama-ATG, a leading manufacturer of all-terrain and off-the-road tyres, has expanded its Galaxy MFS 101 SDS range of forklift tyres with the launch of white, non-marking tyres.

The Galaxy MFS 101 SDS range consists of puncture-proof SDS tyres with extended wear limits designed for high-intensity working shifts and long durability. These are premium, solid rubber tyres developed for tough demands, a long service life and high driving comfort. The addition of white, non-marking tyres is specifically aimed at clean working environments.

Marked by a 3-stage construction process, the forklift tyres feature reduced heat build-up, effective shock absorption and minimised vibrations. The pattern design guarantees a smooth ride and good steerability thanks to its continuous centre lug and circumferential grooves. Furthermore, the flat walls and wide flat profile offer excellent stability when using a forklift for vertical stacking. The tyres are also equipped with anti-slip steel beads for improved rim fitment

In a case study on a CAT 2.5-tonne forklift that was used for handling heavy pallets on asphalt, the Galaxy MFS 101 SDS outshone the competitors with impressive performance. The tyre delivered an approximate 900 working hours before replacement against competitors’ 500 working hours.