A vehicle equipped with its Advan racing tyres won the SP8T class at the 48th Nürburgring 24-Hour Endurance Race (ADAC TOTAL 24h-Rennen) held in Germany on September 26–27.

This year’s race was run mainly on a wet track amid rainy and foggy conditions but the victorious vehicle raced to victory safely without incidence as it was equipped with Yokohama "ADVAN A006” tyres when the course was wet and "ADVAN A005” for dry conditions.
Of the 97 machines that competed in this year’s Nürburgring 24-Hour Endurance Race, seven ran on Yokohama tyres, including four BMWs entered by Germany’s Walkenhorst Motorsport team. Walkenhorst’s No. 73 BMW M4 GT4 finished first among SP8T class entrants and 19th overall. The winning team’s drivers were three 19-20-year-olds from BMW’s junior team—Daniel Harper, Neil Verhagen, and Max Hesse. The team started the race in the pole position for the class after finishing at the top in its class in the qualifying round, but it temporarily slipped to fourth place before racing back into the lead three hours after the start and quickly raced out to a full lap lead over the second place car.

The race was halted for about 9.5 hours owing to the bad weather, but after it resumed Walkenhorst’s No. 73 BMW M4 GT4 never relinquished its lead. Meanwhile, Walkenhorst Motorsport’s No. 101 BMW M6 GT3, which held the top ranking in the NLS (Nürburgring Endurance Series) and was considered a contender for the championship in the 24-Hour race, finished 12th in its class and 12th overall despite trouble which forced the team to make a lengthy pit stop. KONDO RACING, which finished 9th overall and 8th in the SP9 class in its first Nürburgring 24-Hour challenge in 2019, did not participate this year owing to concerns about the spread of COVID-19.

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Kolkata-based Himadri Speciality Chemical has announced that its flagship plant in Mahistikry, Haripal, Hooghly, has received ISCC PLUS (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification).

The company has been recognised for its ecological and social responsibility, along with compliance with stringent criteria on greenhouse gas emission reduction, ecosystem protection, social accountability and complete traceability of raw materials.

Anurag Choudhary, CMD & CEO, Himadri Speciality Chemical, said, “Achieving ISCC PLUS certification marks a defining step in Himadri’s sustainability journey. It validates our determination to integrate renewable, low- carbon, and circular solutions into every layer of our operations. As global industries shift towards sustainable value chains, Himadri is leading this transformation—delivering innovative and responsible solutions that create long-term value for society, the environment, and our stakeholders worldwide.”

With this recognition, the company joins a number of global players who are driving systemic change towards responsible sourcing and production.

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George Varughese, founder of General Rubbers and the man behind the iconic Midas brand of tyre retreading materials, passed away on 28^th August, 2025.

Varughese established General Rubbers in 1969, building Midas into India’s most recognised name in retreading materials. Under his leadership, the company has grown into a global player, supplying more than 24,000 tonnes of tread rubber, precured tread rubber and other products annually. Today, Midas serves customers across South America, Africa, Europe and Australia.

Known for his vision and emphasis on innovation, Varughese placed research and development at the heart of Midas’s success. His commitment to improving compound formulations with the latest technology ensured the brand’s reputation for durability and reliability.

With operations centred in Kottayam, Kerala, Midas continues to expand its dealer network, reflecting Varughese’s lifelong mission of accessibility and customer service.

Varughese leaves behind a lasting legacy in India’s tyre industry, remembered as a pioneer who transformed the retreading sector into a global business.

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Vaculug has named Nick Hermitage as Operations Manager – OTR South, following a significant expansion in its OTR Division.

The company's new OTR Centre of Excellence in the South East will serve as Hermitage's headquarters. He is in charge of making sure the depot runs smoothly, which includes daily administration, logistics, foam filling and tyre pressing. Hermitage brings with him a depth of experience, knowledge and skill – accumulated over 22 years in the tyre industry.

Alan Robin, National Account Manager – OTR, Vaculug Technologies Ltd, said, "This is an incredibly exciting time at Vaculug, and we are fortunate to welcome Nick to the OTR team. His extensive experience and deep knowledge of both OTR and solid tyre operations will be instrumental as we build on our significant investments in the division. I am confident Nick will make a strong contribution to our growth and I wish him every success in his new role."

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Hankook Tire Europe GmbH has appointed Richard Bezzant as the new Marketing Director Truck and Bus with effect from 1 August 2025.

The British-born marketing and sales expert started his career with Michelin in UK in 2003. He brings with him more than two decades of experience in the tyre business for buses and trucks. Following a five-year period in leadership roles in France, he most recently served as Marketing Director for UK and Ireland, where he was responsible for developing and managing the complete marketing strategy across all business divisions.

Bezzant said, “My goal is to support growth opportunities for Hankook in the European truck and bus sector and expand them further. I am confident that we will be able to build on what has been achieved so far and continue to expand the business with innovative products and services. I am glad to be working with a great team to pursue our goals.”

Jang Hyuk Moon, Vice President – Marketing Department, Hankook Tire Europe, said, “With Richard Bezzant, we have appointed an industry-leading expert for our truck and bus marketing activities. With his decades of experience, we will consistently expand our business in the commercial vehicle sector and strengthen our market position in Europe in the long term.”

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