Japan’s endurance race, Super Taikyu Series, will begin its 2021 season with the opening race held on March 20 with Hankook Tire as the exclusive tyre supplier.

The Super Taikyu Series is Japan’s longest-running endurance racing series. It was launched in 1991 and now is the largest Endurance Grand Touring (GT) Series in Asia. The Series not only allows race cars but also production cars that are modified into racing cars, adding enjoyment for spectators and fans.

The Series is also notable for featuring a multi-class structure in order to accommodate a variety of car models. There are nine classes, featuring various models from global premium car brands such as Mercedes, BMW, Porsche, McLaren, Aston Martin and Toyota.

 The season starts with the opening match at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit in Japan. The season will be held in a total of six rounds until November in different circuits including Sportsland SUGO, Fuji Speedway, Autopolis, Suzuka Circuit and Okayama International Circuit.

• The opening match takes place at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit in Japan from March 20-21.
• Hankook Tire will serve as the exclusive supplier of racing tyres, demonstrating its performance throughout the 2021 season.

The first official test race was held at Fuji Speedway on February 27, ahead of the opening match. Hankook Tire was commended highly for its excellent durability and grip, further raising expectations for the upcoming nine-month championship.

Hankook Tire, which became a title sponsor and an exclusive tyre supplier for the 2021 season in which the Series marks its 30th anniversary, will supply race tyres to approximately 60 participating cars. Furthermore, the official title "Super Taikyu Series 2021 Powered by Hankook" will be used and exposed in every game throughout the 2021 season.

“We are thrilled to be part of the Super Taikyu Series 2021, as many global motorsports fans are excited by this Asia’s most renowned pro-am endurance race which invites both professional and amateur drivers to participate and exhibit their performances,” said Sooil Lee, President and COO of Hankook Tire & Technology. “We will once again prove our top-notch technology capabilities and premium performance as well as deliver our passion for the global motorsports and innovative spirit to the world.” (TT)

LANXESS, a specialty chemicals company, has successfully placed a six-year-tenor euro benchmark bond with a coupon of 0.0 percent in the European capital market.
The company, with about 14,800 employees in 33 countries, will use the funds to finance the planned acquisition of IFF, a US-based chemical company involved in microbial control.

The new bond is listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange in denominations of EUR 1,000.

Michael Pontzen, CFO, LANXESS, said, “We have secured the first step of financing already quickly after the announcement of the acquisition of IFF Microbial Control and are happy about the very receptive reaction of the capital market to our offering.” (TT)

Goodyear has launched its new RT-3B bead-to-bead tread in US and Canada in sizes 20.5R25 and 23.5R25 for off-the-road (OTR) tyres.

The new retread provides all-around performance for loaders and graders. Joining the existing lineup of premium off-the-road Goodyear tyres, the retread provides up to 60 percent savings compared to a new tyre.

Used extensively in gruelling OTR applications, retreading helps extend the life of tyres while delivering high traction and minimal tread wear. Additionally, retreading promotes sustainability by reducing unnecessary waste.

The new Goodyear RT-3B is cured in a mould and press method to generate low heat through long hours of usage via its 115-level tread depth. Strongly cut-resistant in nature, the centerline lugs and open shoulder provides optimal traction.

Loic Ravasio, General Manager, Global and Americas OTR, Goodyear, said, “We are always focused on delivering high value and low cost of ownership to our OTR customers. The RT-3B is a substantial addition to our retread portfolio providing another great option for operators to help drive efficiency, reduce costs and protect the environment.” (TT)

Anshuman Singhania, Dy. Managing Director of JK Tyre, has been appointed managing director of the company, effective October 21,2020.

Anshuman Singhania joined the Company as an Executive and over the years has been deeply involved in various activities of the Company in different positions, said the company.

Singhania is also Vice Chairman of ATMA

He is a graduate from Oxford Brookes University, UK and an alumnus of London Business School. As a young leader, he started his career from the shop floor as an apprentice and has held several positions in Planning, Production, Product Development, Quality Control, Stores & Purchase, Finance as well as Sales & Marketing. Being a techno-savvy person, he has played a key role in implementing the latest technologies in the manufacturing process at JK Tyre.

Yokohama Off-Highway Tires recently held the groundbreaking and foundation stone unveiling ceremony of its new plant at Atchutapuram, Visakhapatnam - Andhra Pradesh, India.

In the online event, Masataka Yamaishi , President & Chairman of the Board, Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd broke the ground to commence construction work.

Yamaishi San unveiled the Foundation Stone virtually in the presence of Atao Kishi San: Chairman - ATC Tires Pvt. Ltd. and Managing Officer - The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., Nitin Mantri – CEO and Anil Gupta – COO and the leadership team at Yokohama Off-Highway Tires.

The new plant will have a daily production capacity of 55 tons (rubber weight), with planned capital investment totalling US$165 million. The plant, which will be the company’s third plant in India, will manufacture its three brands ALLIANCE, GALAXY and PRIMEX brand tyres.

 Yokohama Off-Highway Tires currently has two tyre plants in India—the Dahej Plant in Gujarat and the Tirunelveli Plant in Tamil Nadu.