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.

Bridgestone will supply tailored-made tyres for Lamborghini’s Huracán STO, which will be launched in 2021.

Bridgestone ensured the high-performance tyre can maximise the Huracán STO’s traction, handling, control, and extreme overall performance.

Key to the tyre’s success in maximising the super sports car’s performance is the combination of pattern and cavity design. The Potenza tyres apply an asymmetric tread design for enhanced steering response and cornering stability, and an internal crown structure that distributes footprint pressure evenly when cornering.

As well as the road-focused, custom-developed Potenza fitment, Bridgestone will also be providing a track-oriented, road-homologated version of the tyre that applies “race” technologies to maximise the vehicle’s track performance, especially in dry conditions.

Steven De Bock, VP Consumer Replacement and OE at Bridgestone EMIA, said, “It’s been a pleasure for our team to work so closely with Lamborghini for the first time, and on such an exciting project. The Huracán STO is an incredible piece of engineering that deserves a custom tyre that can fulfill its full potential. I can proudly say that Bridgestone has delivered such a high-performance tyre. It has been fantastic for the team to have worked on a project that is at the forefront of technology in so many ways.”

Hankook, one of the major global tyre brands, has started testing and development operations at its new ultra modern facility in Spain.

The testing facility has been set up on the premises of the Applus+ IDIADA Group and can also cater to European premium car manufacturers that have their own demanding tyre tests. The facility is completely automated and will host a 20-member team from the Spanish testing centre, which is affiliated to the Hankook Europe Technical Centre.

Klaus Krause, Head of European Research and Development Centre, said, "With the further expansion of our testing capacities in Spain, we are reaching the next level together with our local partner Applus+ IDIADA."

He also added, "We are confident that the newly installed testing facilities in particular will significantly improve our efforts to provide the best tyre testing conditions and services to our employees and customers. In addition, we will also be able to conduct significantly more tests on site." (TT)

ASCENSO introduced a construction tyre - BLB 730- which is used for boom lift vehicles used in construction and other industries. It comes with several features that cater to the unique needs of aerial lifting equipment.

The BLB 730 tyre is available in different sizes to fit various boom lift vehicles. This range of sizes provides versatility and compatibility with different types of aerial lift work platforms.

“ASCENSO's BLB 730 tyre is a significant advancement in specialised equipment for the construction industry. It focuses on load capacity, stability, traction, and durability to improve the performance and safety of boom lift vehicles. Whether working at heights or manoeuvring on tough terrains, this tyre offers reliability and durability for efficient operations,” said the company in a statement.

The BLB 730 tyre is built to handle heavy loads and stabilise boom lift vehicles. It has solid lugs and a more extended shoulder design, which ensures good traction and prevents slipping during operation. This is important for safely carrying heavy weights at high elevations. ASCENSO has used a special rubber compound in making the BLB 730 tyre, making it durable and long-lasting, resulting in less downtime and more productivity on construction sites.

To make the tyre even better, the company has optimised its inner volume to reduce tyre fill consumption, reducing the risk of tyre punctures, minimising the need for maintenance, and keep the vehicles running smoothly.

Falken Tyre Europe is an official IHF Men's World Championship 2023 partner for the upcoming tournament, the company has announced. The tournament is taking place at nine venues in Sweden and Poland from 11-29 January, 2023. Falken Tyre claims that the partnership was organised by the sports marketing agency SPORTFIVE. SPORTFIVE is responsible for exclusive marketing and media rights for all IHF World Championships until 2031.

Falken Tyre claims that this is its second agreement with the International Handball Federation. In addition to title and logo rights (Official IHF Men's World Championship 2023 Partner), the company has also secured advertising rights, including the Falken logo in each goal and centre circle of the courts, as well as the presence of Falken branding in the official tournament social media communications and print materials. According to Falken Tyre, this is complemented by 30-second video ads that will be shown on the big screens in the nine sports halls before the start of each match and at half-time.

Sharing his views, Robert Müller von Vultejus, Chief Growth Officer at SPORTFIVE, said, “With Falken, the IHF World Handball Championships have secured a great partner who is positioned with far-reaching influence in the relevant core markets. We are delighted to have been able to bring two global partners together for one of the most exciting sporting events of next year.”

Markus Bögner, COO and President of Falken Tyre Europe GmbH, explained, “Handball isn’t just of great importance in Europe, but all over the world, which has led us to partake in this top-level tournament once again. The fact that the international tournament is taking place in countries that are among our core markets is another great reason for our involvement. We can also look back on a long partnership with our colleagues at SPORTFIVE, who always offers us excellent opportunities that are an excellent fit for the Falken brand, which stands for enthusiasm, performance and achievement.”