Kumho has created an all-new control tyre for the 2011 Formula 3 Euro Series. It will be made available to the teams from the first official test session onwards, and has been designed to ensure a level playing field for teams entering the championship for the first time. The final specification of the new tyre resulted from two days of comprehensive evaluation at the renowned Vallelunga circuit in Italy.
Some 900 kilometres were racked up during the test, which was carried out by Dutch F3 ace Renger van der Zande. Kumho supplied four different specifications of tyre – two completely new designs and two new compounds – each of which was compared with the 2010 specification covers.
“The chosen tyre is incredibly good,” revealed an impressed van der Zande. Adding, “The performance for fast qualifying laps and race pace consistency are equally remarkable.” The comments of Christoph Hewer, manager of the Formula 3 Euro Series, were similarly positive, “For many years, now, the co-operation with Kumho has been extremely constructive. Kumho is also a reliable and committed partner when it comes to our efforts to increase the attractiveness of the Formula 3 Euro Series.”
Kumho has been the official tyre supplier to the pre-eminent Formula 3 Euro Series since 2003. The 2010 champion is an Italian, Edoardo Mortara, who will no doubt hope to emulate the likes of newly–crowned World Drivers’ Champion Sebastian Vettel,Lewis Hamilton, Robert Kubica, Nico Rosberg, Timo Glock, Adrian Sutil, Nico Hülkenberg and Sebastien Buemi, all of whom honed their skills on Kumho’s F3 slicks before progressing to F1. As official supplier, Kumho makes some 10,000 tyres available to the series per annum, thereby greatly helping to strengthen awareness for the brand in the European marketplace.
Kumho is also the official supplier to the annual blue riband ‘Masters of F3’ event at Zolder (for which it provides over 1,200 dry and wet weather tyres), as well as the Australian F3 Series and (since the start of this season) the Italian F3 Championship - the three highest points scorers in which each win an F1 test with Ferrari, no less!
