Photo Credit: FIA European Rally

The 2025 Rally of Poland commenced amid an atmosphere of mourning following the tragic death of Italian motorsport driver Matteo Doretto in a racing accident.

The 81st edition of Europe's second-oldest rally competition, taking place across the challenging gravel roads of the Masurian Lakes region from June 13-15, has been overshadowed by the loss of the rising Italian talent.

"His loss is a tragedy that deeply saddens us," said Terenzio Testoni, Pirelli Rally Activity Manager. "On behalf of Pirelli, I would like to extend our most heartfelt and sincere condolences to his family and friends."

Despite the sombre mood, 63 crews took to the start line for what remains one of the European Rally Championship's most demanding events. Notable competitors include Jon Armstrong driving a Pirelli-equipped Ford Fiesta, alongside Jos Verstappen and Andrea Mabellini, both piloting Skoda Fabias fitted with Pirelli tyres.

The rally features 14 special stages covering 190.40 timed kilometres across terrain known for its technical difficulty. The Masurian Lakes route presents drivers with uneven, often sandy roads where grip proves elusive even for experienced competitors.

"It's a very difficult and high speed rally, where attention to detail is very important," commented Testoni. "With every car passage the terrain gets rougher, forming deep ruts that can challenge even the most experienced drivers."

Weather conditions are forecast to remain dry, though organisers caution that conditions can change rapidly on such challenging terrain.

The rally serves as the third round of this season's ERC Fiesta Rally3 trophy, for which Pirelli provides exclusive tyre supply. Competing crews have access to three variants from Pirelli's Scorpion gravel range: the K4A hard compound, the K6A soft compound designated as the prime choice for this event, and the K8B supersoft option.

Regulations permit each crew to utilise 16 tyres total, including those selected for qualifying sessions. Trophy category vehicles will run on Scorpion 175/70-15 specifications in both K4 hard and K6 soft compounds.

Rally Poland's reputation for difficulty stems from its unique surface characteristics, where the sandy base becomes increasingly rutted as more vehicles traverse each stage. The deteriorating conditions throughout the weekend create an additional strategic element as crews must balance speed with mechanical preservation.

The event's location in the Masurian Lakes region, known for its natural beauty, provides a stark contrast to the intense competition unfolding on its roads. The rally has maintained its position as a crucial championship round despite the technical challenges it presents to both drivers and machinery.

Hankook Tyre UK has expanded its Truck and Bus team with two key appointments. Jason Bloor has been appointed as National Account Manager, while Peter Hatton has been appointed as Regional Sales Manager for the combined Midlands and Northwest region.

Bloor, who will be overseeing national fleets activities, brings with him 34 years of experience in the tyre industry, while Hatton, who joined Hankook Tyre UK in May, has over three decades of expertise in the tyre and transport industry.

Chang-Yool Han, Managing Director, Hankook Tyre UK, said, “Following the opening of Hankook House, our new UK headquarters, we are pursuing ambitious growth plans for the UK market. We are delighted to welcome Jason Bloor and Peter Hatton to the team. Their extensive industry experience will undoubtedly make an immediate impact on the company’s continued success."

Bloor said, “I joined the tyre industry straight out of school in 1991 starting as a fitter where I discovered a passion for fleet management. Over the last 20 years, I have managed mileage contracts and key accounts, taking on responsibility in both sales and operations. I am excited to bring my decades of experience to Hankook and help drive brand awareness and strengthen customer relationships.”

Hatton said, “Having spent 30+ years working in the tyre and transport industry, I am privileged to be part of the Hankook UK team. The company offers an excellent range of tyre products across its premium Hankook brand and associate brand Laufenn. I look forward to applying my skills and experience in supporting both current and new customers while working alongside a brilliant team.”

CAMSO Construction has appointed Steffen Sahl as Director of Sales for Europe. Sahl brings with him 25 years of experience in the European OTR mobility sector.

The company statement read: “With over 25 years of experience in the European OTR mobility sector, and a successful entrepreneurial journey in distribution, Steffen combines deep market insight with a customer-first mindset.”

“This is a tremendous opportunity, and I am filled with gratitude for everyone who has been part of my professional path so far. A huge thank you to my previous colleagues, mentors and teams – I carry your lessons and support with me. I am deeply honoured by the trust of the CEAT leadership, and am immensely looking forward to building on Camso's strong foundation, driving growth across European markets and collaborating with the talented team in the CEAT speciality family,” said Sahl on his appointment.

JK Tyre & Industries Ltd, one of India's largest tyre manufacturers, has announced its partnership as co-presenting sponsor of the Men's Asia Cup 2025, as the cricket tournament begins its three-week run across venues in the United Arab Emirates.

The sponsorship deal with Sony Sports Network covers the Twenty20 International tournament running from September 9 to 28 across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, marking JK Tyre's expansion from its traditional motorsport sponsorship into cricket broadcasting.

The partnership positions JK Tyre to reach cricket audiences across India and Asia during prime-time broadcasts of the 19-match tournament, which features eight national teams competing for the continental title.

"At JK Tyre, we have always believed in the power of sport to unite, inspire, and drive passion. Having nurtured motorsport for over three decades, we are excited to bring the same spirit to cricket, a game that binds millions of fans across Asia," said Srinivasu Allaphan, Director-Sales & Marketing at JK Tyre & Industries Ltd.

"Our association with the Men's Asia Cup 2025 is a strategic step in strengthening our brand visibility across India and Asia and reinforcing our positioning as 'Desh Ka Tyre,' a brand that reflects the aspirations and passions of today's India."

JK Tyre, which has built its sporting credentials through decades of involvement in motorsport, is leveraging cricket's popularity to strengthen its market position across Asia's emerging economies.

The Asia Cup represents one of cricket's premier regional tournaments, with the current edition featuring teams including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan amongst others. The tournament serves as preparation for next year's T20 World Cup.

InnoVent Technology LLC has appointed Jose Rodriguez as its new Chief Technology Officer. He brings three decades of extensive experience in industrial digital systems, automation and simulation platforms to the role.

Rodriguez was most recently the Global Technical Authority at Wood Group, a multi-billion-dollar engineering firm, and previously served as CTO of Ingenious Inc., prior to its acquisition by Wood. In his new position, he will direct a global team focused on advancing the company's InnoSIM digital twin platform.

His leadership will be central to integrating commercial AI and automation systems, significantly boosting predictive modelling capabilities and deploying digital twin projects on an international scale. The appointment underscores InnoVent's strategic commitment to leading the industry through cutting-edge technological innovation and advanced digital solutions.