Gaurav Gill is a well-known name in the motorsports fraternity. He learnt to drive a car at the age of 10 and started drifting in cars by the age of 13. His first pro race was at the young age of 16yrs when he started racing motocross all over India until his accident in 2015. His first race on four wheels was in 2003 at the Formula Maruti Championship.

He went on to win championships from 2004, by 2006 he had won multiple National Racing Championships. The big jump in his career came in 2007 when he started racing at the Asia Pacific Rally Championship. He was also given the coveted Arjuna Award, the top recognition to sports achievers by the Indian government.

Tyre Trends talked to Gaurav

You’ve been racing since 2003, over the years, you’ve had many victories. How important a role have tyres played in your races?

Tyres often play one of the most important roles and most people underestimate this, you can have all the power you want but if you don’t have the right tyre it’s never going to be of any use !

Choosing the right set of tyres for the right race is crucial. Do you have a checkpoint list that you go through to determine which tyre you should use for a rally race?

Yes, there are several checklists. Surface, Surface temperatures, air temperature, overall day weather...

The ever-changing ground conditions between stages and the notoriously different terrain … how do you manage to keep your cars tyres at their optimum performance level?

Yes, rallying is a complex sport. The conditions are constantly changing. We have repeat stages, but the conditions can change dramatically and the tyre performance can be vastly affected. It’s important to understand the limit of the tyres and to be driving to the conditions within the tyre limit is the key to survival.

 As an experienced rally driver, do you weigh in on the choice of tyres needed for a race?

Yes, of course, the right tyre compound can be the easy decider when it comes to winning or losing. It’s one of the key factors for a successful result.

At the Gaurav Gill Advanced Driving Academy are there any key points that you emphasise on when it comes to tyres?

Absolutely! Rallying is a sport where the driver doesn’t have much traction due to the surface conditions so the driver has to be smart enough to create traction for himself accordingly. Tyres are one the main tools a driver has apart from mechanical grip which works in tandem. To be able to use the tyre to its potential and not overuse it is what we emphasise on as it can be the most crucial point during an event.

Any advice for young rally aspirants?

Focus and dedication are very important in any sport. Never use public roads to practice!

The school

The Gaurav Gill Advanced Driving Academy is all about the science behind driving. The academy has given opportunities to men, women of all ages and even teenagers as young as 14-years old to witness a world class level of rally driving from Gaurav Gill and to be educated and trained by Gaurav Gill along with his self-trained instructors to take their driving levels par excellence.

GG-ADA has hosted schools in Delhi and around Coimbatore on the legendary rally stages of the Indian Rally C’ship giving an opportunity to the participants to reach speeds of up to 150 kmph on natural gravel roads. GG ADA is all about selling the highest driving standards to people not only in India but internationally also including FIA African champion who is regularly trained under Gaurav Gill.

The idea in the future is to open the academy with 5-6 rally cars with JK Tyre branding, support and using the JK Rally Tyres in India and make this into a permanent facility with rally cars & instructors available in the South and the north of India to be hosted by GG on monthly basis and also to attract corporate clients and make it into commercially viable weekend getaway for the adventure & the adrenaline junkie. Gaurav Gill also plans to create an alliance with the Indian Armed forces and the Traffic police spreading awareness of safe driving and smart driving through GG-ADA.

On 18 June, the prestigious 22nd ‘World Brand Conference and Release Ceremony of China's 500 Most Valuable Brands’ was held in Beijing, organised by the World Brand Lab. Demonstrating its industry leadership, Doublestar achieved an impressive brand valuation of CNY 116.208 billion (approximately USD 16.21 billion), securing the 93rd position overall and maintaining its position as the highest-ranked Chinese tyre brand for yet another year.

This recognition underscores Doublestar's strong market presence and consumer trust, built on decades of innovation and quality craftsmanship. Moving forward, the company has committed to strengthening its brand influence through continuous technological advancement and sustainable development. By focusing on research and production of safer, smarter and more environmentally friendly tyre solutions, Doublestar aims to not only meet evolving market demands but also drive the high-quality growth of China's tyre industry.

Continental Tires has achieved a major sustainability milestone with all its European tyre production facilities now certified under the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS standard. The certification extends to plants in Lousado (Portugal), Puchov (Slovakia), Korbach (Germany), Sarreguemines (France), Otrokovice (Czech Republic) and Timișoara (Romania), along with the supporting Industria Textil do Ave textile plant in Portugal. The company's Hefei facility in China has also earned this recognition, expanding Continental's sustainable manufacturing network globally.

The ISCC PLUS certification verifies Continental's compliance with rigorous traceability and documentation requirements for renewable and recycled materials used in tyre production. This system enables the company to track sustainable inputs throughout the manufacturing process using the mass balance approach, which allows gradual incorporation of eco-friendly materials while maintaining existing production systems. Continental is currently increasing its use of certified materials, including bio-based synthetic rubbers and circular-process carbon black, as part of its strategy to include over 40 percent sustainable materials in tyres by 2030.

As a globally recognised standard established in 2010, ISCC certification promotes climate-friendly, deforestation-free supply chains across multiple industries. It covers sustainable biomass, recycled materials and renewable resources, providing a framework for transparent, responsible sourcing. For Continental, this achievement represents both a validation of current sustainability efforts and a foundation for future innovations in eco-conscious tyre manufacturing. The company's growing network of certified facilities demonstrates its commitment to reducing environmental impact while maintaining product quality and performance standards across its global operations.

Jorge Almeida, head of Sustainability for Continental Tires, said, “The ISCC PLUS certification of all our European tyre plants is an important milestone and a strong signal for a more sustainable industry in Europe. But we're not stopping there. Our plants in other regions will follow step by step, like our Hefei plant, which is already certified. We have a strong ambition to make our tyre production more sustainable worldwide across our entire supply chain.”

Bandvulc has expanded its Wastemaster 5 tyre range with a new 315/70 size, enhancing options for urban waste collection and recycling vehicles. Originally launched in 2021, this robust tyre boasts a high load rating and is manufactured at ContiLifeCycle’s Ivybridge facility in Devon, which produces Bandvulc and ContiRe retread tyres.

The Wastemaster 5 incorporates ARMORBAND technology, featuring a reinforced rubber layer along the sidewall to resist scrubbing damage and prolong tyre life. Its advanced tread design includes wide zig-zag grooves for mud and water clearance, stone ejection features, stepped blocks and deep sipes for superior traction in tough conditions. This upgrade reinforces Bandvulc’s commitment to durability and performance in demanding waste management operations.

Eurogrip Tyres, India’s top 2 & 3-wheeler tyre brand under TVS Srichakra Ltd, today launched two exclusive retail stores in Chennai – at Selaiyur and Villivakkam. These outlets will stock a full range of two-wheeler tyres, tubes and biking accessories like helmets, alongside offering tyre care, puncture repair, fitment services and engine oil changes.

Catering to scooters, commuter bikes, performance bikes and superbikes, the stores provide diverse tyre patterns and sizes. They will also handle warranty claims for customers. The Selaiyur store is located at J C Group, Plot no 3, Agaram Main Road, Chennai - 600 073, while the Villivakkam outlet is at ST Enterprises, Old no 39E/New no 103, MTH Road, Chennai - 600 049. These expansions reinforce Eurogrip’s commitment to premium service and accessibility.

T K Ravi, COO, Eurogrip Tyres, said, “We are happy to reach out to more customers through our new branded retail stores. In a city that has a bustling two-wheeler vehicle population, there is a need to have more outlets to expand our network. Chennai is an important market for us, and we had opened our first branded retail store in Velachery last May. The response from customers and riders has been encouraging and we are happy to be launching 2 more stores in the city – this will help bolster our brand strength here. We plan to have more such signature stores in different cities to make our products and services easily accessible to customers.”