The Japanese manufacturer of road and motorsport tyres, Yokohama, will be providing competitors with grip and reliability at every level of motorsport in 2006. From grass roots in the UK to the pinnacle of global motorsport, the Yokohama and ADVAN brands will be proudly displayed on a variety of machinery.

Building on more than a decade’s experience and success, the UK distributor, Yokohama HPT, will again supply tyres to no less than 31 race series in the UK. For example, the 750 Motor Club’s brand new Sax Max series, aimed at 14-17 year old drivers, will use the A539 tyre, developed for use on the road but adopted by many of the club’s series. The A539’s exceptional grip and wear rates mean it is the perfect choice for not only the Sax Max series but also categories such as the Stock Hatch series, which provides extremely close racing, while allowing cars to travel to and from circuits on the roads. This helps to reduce the overall cost of competing and promotes healthy grids.

In addition to circuit races, Yokohama tyres are also used in RallyCross, British one-make Rally championships and a variety of oval race categories. But it’s not just cars that achieve success on Yokohama tyres. The F1 motorcycle sidecar series uses a specially developed crossply slick racing tyre, while Yokohama crossplies have also achieved enviable success on the world-famous Isle of Man TT races. The vast majority of the field in recent years has run on the Japanese rubber, with almost every winner taking victory on Yokohama.

And it’s not only the UK where Yokohama will demonstrate its commitment to motorsport in 2006. In the World Rally Championship, it will again be supporting Fumio Nutahara as he competes in the Production World Rally Championship in his Group N Mitsubishi Evolution EvoIX. Nutahara’s chances will be boosted this year by his new co-driver, Daniel Barritt, who previously partnered former British and USA rally champion, David Higgins. Nutahara’s campaign is already off to a flying start, as he won the opening round of the P-WRC, the Rallye Monte Carlo, his maiden victory and the first time Yokohama has won in the FIA Production World Rally Championship.

Yokohama and ADVAN will also be present once again at the Le Mans 24 Hours, perhaps the greatest motor race in the world. For 2006, the Courage Competition team will again be partnered by Yokohama, on their entry in the prototype class at La Sarthe, as well as their entry into the Le Mans Endurance Series. This championship comprises 1000km endurance races around some of the most famous circuits in Europe.

And on a truly global scale, Yokohama will supply the control tyres to the FIA 2006 World Touring Car Championship, under the ADVAN brand. This series, one of just three FIA World Championships, sees major car manufacturers battling on circuits around the world in some of the closest racing action imaginable. All competing cars will use the ADVAN A005 racing slick tyre for dry conditions and the A006 for wet.

Commenting on the news, Yokohama HPT’s Head of Motorsport, Mark Evans said; “We’re delighted to be continuing our relationship with the various organising clubs and series in the UK for 2006. These relationships have been built over time and are all based on mutual success and achievement. We feel that the choice of Yokohama tyres for so many series demonstrates not only the tyres’ performance but also Yokohama HPT’s back-up and the strength of our dealer network.

“The involvement of Yokohama in international motorsport is also a clear indication that the heritage and expertise of the company results in tyres that perform when required. And we are also extremely pleased that this commitment has been recognised by car manufacturers such as Porsche, Bentley, Lotus, Aston Martin and Morgan, who are now using Yokohama and ADVAN tyres as Original Equipment on their road cars. Not many people realise that around 50% of Yokohama’s total production is for OE fitment and this is a direct result of the commitment and success of our motorsport activity over the years.”