YOKOHAMA strengthens relationships over summer

23 Aug 10

The UK distributor for YOKOHAMA tyres, YOKOHAMA HPT Ltd, has spent the summer strengthening its key sporting relationships, both within the motorsport arena and outside. It has re-signed as a partner to N Power League 1 football team the MKDons while it also capitalised on the UK round of the FIA World Touring Car Championship and the European Championship round of the BRISCA F2 series, both using Yokohama control tyres.

YOKOHAMA HPT Ltd will again partner the MKDons for the 2010/11 season. The team is based at the stadiumMK, just a stone's throw from YOKOHAMA HPT Ltd's Milton Keynes base and will see YOKOHAMA branding on display at the Don's home ground, as well as give YOKOHAMA the opportunity to support the team in person at various home games throughout the season.
 
The MKDons promoted former assistant manager, Karl Robinson to the top spot of manager in May of this year, making the 29 year-old the league's youngest manager. Working with assistant manager John Gorman, first team coach Alex Rae and the recently appointed former Germany and Liverpool star Dietmar Hamann as player-coach, the management team will add what MKDons chairman Pete Winkelman describes as 'much-needed continuity'.
 
While the MKDons were preparing for the start of their season, YOKOHAMA HPT Ltd was exploiting the UK round of the FIA World Touring Car Championship, at Brands Hatch in Kent. As in previous years, the company had a significant presence at the event, which saw promotions to the visiting public and the chance for the UK distributor to showcase the YOKOHAMA brand.
 
In addition to the two WTCC races, won by championship leader Yvan Muller and home hero Andy Priaulx, the Lotus On Track series was also competing, using Yokohama tyres.
 
While the WTCC and Lotus on Track drivers were well received at Brands Hatch, Mark Evans, YOKOHAMA HPT Ltd's Motorsport Manager, was at Northampton raceway for the UK round of the BRISCA European Championship F2 oval racing series. Again, this excellent example of high-octane motorsport uses YOKOHAMA tyres exclusively and was won by David Polley, son of oval racing legend George Polley.
 
The company also had a presence at several of the UK's premier modified car shows over the summer, including Japfest and Ford Fair, two of the largest events, reinforcing its commitment to the car personalising movement.
 
Commenting on the summer's activity, Yokohama HPT Managing Director David Seward said; "It's been an incredibly busy summer for us so far. We've been to consumer shows, race meetings and football matches to promote the YOKOHAMA brand and I am delighted with the response we've had.
 
"It's great to be involved with the MKDons once again. I think there is a genuine buzz around the team and I know that Karl Robinson has some innovative ideas to move the team forward.
 
"The World Touring Cars at Brands Hatch was a great success for us, as it is perhaps one of the best opportunities for us to communicate the benefits of the YOKOHAMA brand and product. It is also a fantastic weekend of racing and we were privileged to see some exceptional action, as well as meet some of the drivers from the series.
 
"At the same time it's important for us to demonstrate our support of BRISCA with the F2 European Championship meeting and congratulate David Polley for his win. It's a very dramatic formula and it's good to see oval racing going from strength to strength.
 
"I look forward to working with all our sporting partners for the rest of this season and for many years to come."