YOKOHAMA/Toyota Motorsport GmbH breaks EV record at Pikes Peak
YOKOHAMA’s partnership with Toyota Motorsport GmbH, at the weekend’s “Pikes Peak” Hill Climb in
USA, has proved the superb performance and reliability of the ADVAN A048 tyres with the Japanese
driver Fumio Nutahara winning the Electric Vehicle (EV) category and breaking the EV record time.
Using the TMG EV P002 race car, powered by a high-performance TMG electric powertrain, driver
Nutahara set a time of 10 minutes 15.380 seconds to set a new record for electric vehicles on the
19.99km track.
The event which took place yesterday in the state of Colorado, after having been postponed earlier
this summer as a result of wildfires in the region, saw the highest number of participants in what is
regarded as one of the toughest motorsport challenges in the world. Racing to the 4,301-meter
summit, participants cover a 20-kilometer course beginning at the 2,862-meter level. In addition to the
twists and turns of the climb, the weather changes rapidly along the way and tests the resilience of the
drivers. Technological advancements and technical prowess must be carefully balanced in order to
achieve success.
YOKOHAMA also took part in the event through its “Team Yokohama EV Challenge" and its unique
EV racing car, equipped with BluEarth-A Tyres, a new product in the BluEarth fuel-efficient tyre line
incorporating the latest environmental technologies, including orange oil compounding technology.
The EV car painted in BluEarth colours was once again driven by Ikuo Hanawa, a skilled, world-class
off-road racing driver who on Sunday achieved a meritorious 5th place in the EV Category.
The "Challenge" is just one of YOKOHAMA’s many environmental activities based on the BluEarth
concept, which the company seeks to share with the world under the theme "environmentally, human
and socially friendly." This has been the fourth year that YOKOHAMA participates in the race. In each
of 2010 and 2011, the team accomplished the outstanding achievement of improving the previous alltime record for an EV. By taking on the challenge of the world’s most iconic hill climb race,
YOKOHAMA seeks to further the research and development of eco-friendly, fuel efficient tyres, while
pushing the boundaries of performance.
Notes to Editors
YOKOHAMA is one of the leading Tyre manufacturers in the world and is Official Tyre supplier
for;
FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) – since 2006
European Touring Car Cup (ETCC) – since 2005
Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) – since 2007
Scandinavian Touring Car Championship (STCC) – since 2010
Russian Touring Car Championship (RTCC) – since 2006
Chinese Touring Car Championship (CTCC) – since 2010
Irish Touring Car Championship (ITCC) – new for 2012
International Formula 3 Grand Prix Macau – since 1983
ATS German Formula 3 – until 2005 and since 2007
FIA F2 Championship – new for 2012
Japanese Formula 3 – since 2011
ADAC GT Masters new for 2012
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GT Asia new for 2012