Parth Ghorpade got bitten by the racing bug at a young age. He started racing Go karts at the age of nine and went on to become  a five times National Karting Champion between 2003-2010, while also representing India at the Rotax World Finals in 2008,2009 & 2010.

In 2010 Parth moved on to cars and was the VW Polo Cup Vice Champion. His International racing career started with the French FFSA Renault F4 Championship in 2011 and in 2012 he was the Asian Champion in Formula Pilota China.

Parth levelled up by becoming the first Indian driver to test at the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2013. Today he is an experienced racer in Formula Renault , Formula 3, Lamborghini Super Trofeo , LMP3 in the Ultimate Cup and LMP2 in the European Le Mans series. His goal is to continue racing in the LMP2 category and progress to the World Endurance Championship.

The champion racer talked to Tyre Trends on one of the most critical elements in motorsports – tyres.

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 are as critical to winning as the engine and chassis. While race tyres are built to the highest standards of quality ,sometimes you do get a set that works better than average, at other times you might get a set that is not uniform. Your performance will vary accordingly.

Choosing the right tyre at the right time is crucial. Do you have a checkpoint list that you go through to determine which tyre you should use?

It is only in the FIA F3, F2, and F1 that you get a choice of multiple dry and wet compounds. Most other series have just one type of dry and wet tyre. Which compound to use is a complex decision based on track conditions, set ups, driving styles and tyre wear. Races are won and lost on tyre strategies and tyre strategies are constantly evolving.

Tyres (The Dark Art) - Managing your tyres is a tricky thing for a driver. Keeping the tyres in a correct temperature range, not too hot and not too cold. How do you manage the balance between the two?

It is important not to overdrive and overheat your tyres in the early stages of a qualifying lap or the race itself. A lot depends upon your driving style! The smoother the better, for tyre wear. At the same time, slow running behind a safety car requires continuous weaving and braking to maintain tyre and brake temperature. Same applies when coming into the grid for the start. Engineers will tell you how many wheel spins to do before the grid spot.

As an experienced Formula 1 driver, do you weigh in on the choice of tyres needed for a race or does the Team take a decision on their own?

In the series I have raced (single seaters and endurance prototypes), everyone uses the same slick or wet tyre. But the engineers do take into consideration the track conditions and characteristics in choosing tyre pressures, ideal lap times to prevent premature tyre wear and at the same time maintain a good pace. Sometimes the start may be on a damp/wet track which is expected to dry out later. It is always difficult to decide whether to start on wet tyres or slicks. This is where the experience and skill of the driver is important.The right call can get you a podium!  Personally, I am very comfortable in wet racing conditions, but whatever the conditions, you still need to manage your tyres over a race distance, and also maximise their potential during qualifying.

The new tyre rules for 2020 have been delayed till 2022. Do you feel that the new tyre rules would have made a big difference in how a race car performs on the track?

For 2022, the 13inch wheels will be replaced by 18inch wheels. Thus, we will be looking at a heavier and a lower profile tyre which is expected to be upto 2 seconds slower than the current tyre. However, these low-profile tyres may be less sensitive aerodynamically and may encourage closer racing. The teams will come up with new changes on the chassis to make up for the small loss of speed.

Any advice for young racing aspirants?

Motorsports is an expensive sport, especially if you aspire to reach the top levels. It is not possible to practice like other sports, so you have to adapt to limited testing opportunities and at the same time maintain a very high level of physical and mental fitness. Top level karting is the foundation of your race craft and driving techniques and it is important to invest time and money in this first rather than go straight to cars.

There are opportunities to develop karting skills via the Rotax championships and entry level experience in cars here. But if you aspire to race professionally, then the sooner you start racing in Europe or Asia the better. We do not have the infrastructure or number of races in India to develop beyond a certain point. If you have the will, and the financial backing , go for it.

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.