Yokohama's tires recently assisted Japanese driver Toshi Arai
in clinching the Production Cup at the Intercontinental Rally
Challenge event in Cyprus.
Arai partnered with Australian Dale Moscatt in a Yokohama-
sponsored Subaru Impreza R4.
Considered one of the circuit’s toughest events, the rough
gravel roads, relatively low speeds and high temperatures
placed a huge strain on the cars, crews and tires. It was
conducted as a mixed-surface rally, meaning that the
competitors faced both gravel and tarmac surfaces.
“This rally was very difficult – very rough conditions and
tricky with the mixed surfaces, so I am very happy to win the
Production Cup here and of course, the title,” says
Arai.
“We have the new R4 car and the new Yokohama tire this year,
so I am very pleased because of this also,” he points out.
“The Yokohama tires have been getting better and better this
year and worked very well for us on this event. I am very
happy.”
“We had a special version of the A036 ‘Rally Racer’ tire for
Cyprus, specially reinforced for the rough conditions,”
reports Ian Beveridg, Yokohama’s tire technician at the track.
“We tended to use both the A036 and the A053 on the car at the
same time, to get the right grip balance and handling and it
seems to have worked perfectly,” he explains.
“Toshi drove very well and we were delighted with the way the
tires held up in the conditions,” says Beveridge.
“It is particularly gratifying to see Yokohama tires not only
performing but doing so reliably and with no problems,” adds
Mark Evans, chief of motorsports at Yokohama’s UK-based
distributor. “Cyprus has a fearsome reputation, and for these
tires to help him finish seventh out of a huge field of
Super2000 cars shows that our tires offer the ideal
characteristics for rallying; grip, wear resistance, strength
and consistency.”
For more information, visit www.yokohamatire.com.
