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.

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Toyo Tire Corporation said Mitsubishi Corporation has ceased to be a major shareholder after tendering its entire holding through a treasury share buyback, ending its status as the company’s largest shareholder.

The change took effect on 10^th August , 2026, following Toyo Tire’s acquisition of its own shares through off-auction trading (ToSTNeT-3). Mitsubishi tendered all its shares, excluding less than one unit, as part of the transaction.

As a result, Mitsubishi is no longer classified as a major shareholder or associated company of Toyo Tire, the company said.

Before the transaction, Mitsubishi held 30,822,206 shares, equivalent to 20.07 percent of total voting rights, and ranked as the largest shareholder. Following the change, its holding has effectively been reduced to zero.

The move follows Toyo Tire’s earlier announcement on August 7, 2026 regarding the termination of its capital and business alliance with Mitsubishi, alongside plans to repurchase its own shares.

Toyo Tire said the change would have no impact on its consolidated financial results.

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Linglong Tire has become the first Chinese tyre manufacturer to join the Global Data Service Organization (GDSO) as a full member, marking a step in the industry’s efforts to standardise and exchange tyre-related data globally.

The company joins the non-profit body as its fourteenth member. GDSO was established in January 2022 by Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear, Michelin and Pirelli to facilitate the digital exchange of tyre data and develop common standards across the sector.

Moh Wahi, Head Of Truck And Bus Tyre Development at Linglong Europe, said: "By joining the GDSO as a Full Member and providing reliable data, we want to be the first Chinese tyre manufacturer to make a positive contribution to the further development of the tire industry and set new standards for the efficient processing of tire data in the digital age."

Riccardo Giovannotti, Secretary General of GDSO, said: "With Linglong Tire as a Full Member, GDSO is gaining one of the leading Chinese tire companies which is committed to digitalization and sustainability in the industry. Together, we will further make progress in developing standards for data processing and future-oriented solutions."

Shandong Linglong Tire Co., Ltd., founded in 1975, operates seven research and development centres globally and employs almost 20,000 people. The company runs nearly 200,000 sales outlets and exports products to 175 countries.

It supplies tyres to more than 200 production bases for over 60 automakers and has manufacturing facilities across China, Thailand and Serbia, with plans to expand further overseas.

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TyreSafe, UK’s charity dedicated to raising tyre safety awareness, has joined forces with Sussex Police’s Road Safety Team to introduce a pioneering digital reference tool for frontline officers. The initiative equips police with immediate, device-accessible tyre safety data during roadside stops.

Developed as a local pilot, the application enables consistent vehicle examinations and improves driver communication regarding tyre dangers. It offers specific checklists for diverse vehicle categories, including motorcycles, cars, heavy goods vehicles, light commercial vans and towed trailers. The system further incorporates guidance on part-worn tyres, common queries and educational talking points.

Following its Sussex trial, the programme holds potential for nationwide adoption across UK police forces. This deployment underscores Sussex Police’s dedication to roadway innovation and reinforces the essential contribution of proper tyre maintenance to overall public safety.

Stuart Lovatt, TyreSafe Chair, said, “This partnership with Sussex Police is a landmark moment for tyre safety enforcement and education. By putting reliable, accessible tyre safety guidance directly into the hands of frontline officers, we can ensure safer vehicles on our roads and help prevent avoidable collisions and breakdowns. Sussex is leading the way, and we hope this model will soon be adopted nationally.”

Superintendent Jo Grantham, Head of Roads Policing, Sussex Police, said, “Our officers are committed to keeping road users safe, and having instant access to this tyre safety resource makes a real difference on the ground. It supports enforcement while also giving us the tools to educate drivers more effectively. We’re proud to be working with TyreSafe on this project and to be the first police force in the country to pilot it.”

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The UK Towing Safety Alliance (UKTSA) has published a comprehensive four-year analysis of incident data from National Highways’ Strategic Road Network, covering 2022 to 2025. The findings reveal a 23 percent rise in total towing-related incidents, driven primarily by a maintenance crisis affecting utility and commercial trailers. While traffic collisions involving towed vehicles decreased by 17 percent, mechanical breakdowns now constitute 77 percent of all towing-related incidents, highlighting vehicle and trailer condition as the sector's foremost challenge.

The data coincides with SMMT Motorparc 2025 figures showing Britain's vehicle fleet at its oldest recorded level, with average car age reaching 9.7 years. The summer harvest season has also arrived, bringing agricultural trailers back to roads after months of disuse. NFU Mutual research indicates collisions involving agricultural vehicles are 56 percent more likely between May and September, reinforcing the need for pre-journey roadworthiness checks.

Utility and agricultural trailers now account for nearly half of all towing-related callouts, surpassing 3,000 incidents in 2025. Regionally, the North West has overtaken the South East as the most incident-prone area, with trailer failures surging 60 percent since 2022, while the North East recorded a 55 percent increase. A growing divide exists between leisure and commercial towing sectors.

Leisure sector improvements, including fewer horsebox incidents and regional caravan reductions, suggest awareness campaigns are yielding positive results. However, utility trailer failures continue climbing, indicating maintenance standards across commercial and domestic sectors require greater attention. Regular servicing, correct loading and proper coupling remain essential to prevent avoidable incidents.

For working trailers, summer represents peak operational period, with agricultural and utility trailers seeing intensive use while rural roads become busier with tourists and cyclists. The Alliance emphasises that trailers stored for extended periods require thorough inspections before returning to service.

The UKTSA urges all towers to perform three essential checks covering tyres, load and connection before every journey. Tyres must be inspected for pressure, tread and deterioration; loads correctly distributed and couplings and electrical connections verified. The Alliance will place ‘The Working Trailer’ at the centre of safety campaigns, collaborating with industry partners to boost maintenance awareness and reduce preventable breakdowns across the Strategic Road Network.

A spokesperson for the UK Towing Safety Alliance said, “It’s encouraging to see fewer collisions involving towing vehicles, which suggests that drivers are becoming more aware of safe towing practices. However, that progress is being undermined by a growing number of preventable mechanical failures. The challenge is no longer simply about how people tow – it’s increasingly about what they’re towing and the condition it’s in. As both tow vehicles and trailers get older, regular maintenance has never been more important.”

Stuart Lovatt, Chair of TyreSafe, said, “Harvest season places extra demands on both vehicles and trailers, particularly those that may only be used for a few months each year. One of the most common issues we see is tyres that appear to have plenty of tread but have deteriorated through age, weathering or prolonged storage. Whether you’re towing a livestock trailer, plant trailer, horsebox or caravan, tyres should always be inspected for correct pressure, damage, cracking and signs of ageing before every journey. A few minutes spent carrying out these checks can prevent breakdowns and significantly improve safety for everyone using our roads.”

Sarah Smithurst MBE, COO, National Trailer & Towing Association (NTTA), said, “Across the NTTA network, we’re seeing a noticeable increase in enquiries from people looking to refurbish older trailers or source second-hand trailers, including imported models, as a more affordable alternative to buying new. While extending the life of a trailer is often entirely appropriate, it’s essential that owners understand that trailers are not maintenance-free. Many have been in service for years, sometimes decades, and components naturally deteriorate over time, even if the trailer has seen relatively little use. Every trailer should be thoroughly inspected before it returns to the road, with particular attention paid to tyres, brakes, bearings, couplings and lighting. Investing in regular servicing and maintenance is far less costly than experiencing a breakdown – or worse, being involved in an incident. The NTTA continues to help and advice new and old trailer users about safety and many are asking for help when towing, especially the reversing aspect of a trailer, now the B&E test was withdrawn. We are also seeing more trailers being repatriated from North America and Europe rather than purchasing new in the UK.”

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