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)

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 The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) is convening its annual Tire Manufacturing Ambassadors programme this week, sending industry professionals to Capitol Hill to press lawmakers on policies supporting domestic manufacturing, road safety and sector innovation.

The two-day event, running from 24–25 June, brings together representatives from USTMA’s 11 member companies — including engineers, business managers and marketers — to meet with members of Congress and their staff. The discussions are expected to focus on key legislative priorities such as expanding tyre retreading in the U.S., advancing consumer safety initiatives, and passing a congressional resolution in support of National Tire Safety Week.

“The U.S. tyre manufacturing industry is a vibrant engine of innovation, enabling safe and sustainable mobility for consumers and businesses. Our industry is a cornerstone of the nation’s economy, supporting more than 800,000 jobs and keeping up with evolving consumer expectations on reliability, safety and environmental impact,” said Anne Forristall Luke, USTMA president and CEO.

The ambassadors, who live in the same communities where the industry operates, are set to highlight how national legislation impacts local jobs and infrastructure. USTMA members operate 55 manufacturing facilities across 16 states and contribute to a $170.6 billion annual economic footprint, the association said.

The event follows a letter sent by USTMA to Congressional leaders in February outlining the sector’s legislative agenda. The group is advocating for increased investment in tyre innovation, transparency measures for consumers, and job creation through infrastructure and sustainability-focused policies.

“Our Ambassadors represent the manufacturing workers who power the industry every day, and we are honoured by their advocacy for the tyre manufacturing industry and the communities it supports,” Luke added.

The initiative reflects USTMA’s broader push to align policymakers with the industry’s goals of maintaining global competitiveness while securing long-term growth for U.S. manufacturing.

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Finnish tyre manufacturer Nokian Tyres has been recognised by TIME Magazine as one of the World’s Most Sustainable Companies 2025, ranking 98th on the prestigious global list of 500 companies demonstrating outstanding environmental and social responsibility.

The second edition of the rankings, compiled by TIME Magazine in collaboration with data firm Statista, evaluated companies based on verified sustainability commitments, including UN Global Compact membership and greenhouse gas emission reduction targets validated by the Science-Based Targets initiative.

Assessment criteria also included performance ratings from respected organisations such as CDP and MSCI, alongside evaluations of sustainable business practices, transparency, and environmental and social stewardship.

Nokian Tyres has positioned itself as a sustainability pioneer within the tyre industry, driving sustainable development both within its operations and throughout its value chain. The company’s environmental leadership dates back three decades, with its Finnish factory becoming the world’s first tyre manufacturing facility to achieve environmental certification in 1995.

“We create tyres that are safe, innovative and sustainable. Nokian Tyres has been a pioneer in sustainability in the tyre industry for over three decades. As early as 1995, our factory in Finland was the first tyre factory in the world to gain an environmental certification. We are proud of our track record and want our sustainability actions to have a meaningful impact. The most recent example of this is our new factory in Romania, the first full-scale zero CO2 emission tyre factory in the world,” said Paolo Pompei, president and chief executive of Nokian Tyres.

The company’s latest sustainability milestone is its new Romanian manufacturing facility, which represents the world’s first full-scale zero CO2 emission tyre factory, demonstrating Nokian Tyres’ continued commitment to environmental innovation in industrial manufacturing.

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Chinese state-owned enterprise Sinochem has achieved a significant milestone, with its brand value surpassing 500 billion yuan for the first time, according to rankings released at the 22nd World Brand Conference in Beijing.

The World Brand Lab announced that Sinochem ranked seventh on its annual “China’s 500 Most Valuable Brands” list for 2025, with the company’s brand value climbing from 475.906 billion yuan in 2024 to over 500 billion yuan this year.

This marks the 22nd consecutive year that the Sinochem brand has secured a position on the prestigious ranking. The company’s property development arm, Jinmao, also featured prominently, placing 170th with a brand value of 74.186 billion yuan.

The World Brand Lab’s methodology evaluates brand worth through three key metrics: financial performance, brand strength, and consumer behaviour analysis, employing a “present value of earnings method” for valuation. The ranking is widely regarded as one of the most authoritative assessments in Chinese brand research.

Sinochem’s consistent performance has been particularly notable since 2004 when it first entered the top ten of the annual list. Following the establishment of China National Chemical Corporation on 8 May 2021, the enhanced Sinochem brand has maintained its seventh position for four consecutive years, demonstrating sustained growth in brand value and international market recognition.

The company attributed its success to implementing comprehensive brand management strategies aligned with government directives on brand development. Sinochem stated that it will continue to leverage high-quality brand building and valuable brand assets to strengthen its core functions and competitiveness, supporting the company’s long-term development objectives.

The World Brand Conference, now in its 22nd year, serves as a key platform for evaluating China’s corporate brand landscape and tracking the evolution of the country’s most significant commercial entities.

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German tyre major Continental is significantly expanding its presence in the global market for ultra-high-performance (UHP) tyres. The company states that the UHP tyres are designed for safe and dynamic driving at high speeds and are available in sizes from 18 inches.

Between 2019 and 2024, the premium tyre manufacturer increased its worldwide sales of UHP tyres in the passenger car and light truck segment by approximately 15 percent. Over the same period, the share of UHP tyre sales across all Continental brands rose from 38 to 52 percent, and to 60 percent for the core Continental brand, up from 46 percent five years ago.

Edwin Goudswaard, Head of R&D, Continental Tires, said, “For us, ultra-high-performance tyres are much more than a technological flagship product – they are a strategic driver of innovation. Their development requires engineering of the highest standard, high-tech materials and precise testing and production processes. At the same time, they demonstrate our solid position in the premium segment and significantly contribute to Continental’s economic strength.”

UHP tyres are claimed to provide excellent grip, precise steering, strong brake performance and high driving stability, primarily used on powerful vehicles such as sports cars, SUVs and luxury saloons. The global demand for UHP tyres is projected to grow by around 9 percent annually until 2029, driven by the increasing popularity of SUVs and the electrification of powertrains. Continental is experiencing particularly high demand for UHP tyres in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in China.

The German brand currently offers UHP tyres across all product segments, including summer, winter and all-season tyres. The flagship product in its UHP portfolio is the SportContact 7. Since its global launch in 2022, the SportContact 7 has won 21 out of 24 independent tyre tests, boasting a success rate of over 87 percent.

The company stated that tyre testers have praised its ‘shortest braking distances under all test conditions’ and ‘very balanced and safe vehicle handling on dry roads and even better performance on wet roads compared with the competition.’ Its precise steering characteristics, reproducible driving responses and excellent grip during sporty driving have also received acclaim.

Continental continues to invest in the development of its UHP products, fostering close collaborations with vehicle manufacturers and tuning specialists like AC Schnitzer and Brabus.

"These partnerships enable us to transfer ideas from the high-performance segment to the mass market,” explained Goudswaard. The High-Performance Technology Centre (HPTC) in Korbach produces high-performance tyres for powerful and technologically sophisticated passenger cars and conducts rigorous testing under realistic extreme conditions.

The SportContact 7 has received original equipment approvals for various models, including the Porsche Panamera, Maserati Levante, Audi RS6 Avant, Polestar 3, BMW 5 Series and BYD Seal. The tyre is available in 120 sizes from 18 to 24 inches and has been developed for both electric and conventional vehicles.

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