Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Yokohama replaces Avon as Formula 2 tyre supplier

Yokohama has become the official tyre supplier for the FIA Formula 2 Championship

The partnership, which was announced at AUTOSPORT International on Thursday, means that the partnership between F2 and Avon - which has supplied rubber for the past three years - has come to an end.

"We're delighted to confirm our new partnership between Formula 2 and Yokohama," said series chief Jonathan Palmer.

"Given the impressive results achieved in testing so far we're confident our new tyres will deliver enhanced performance both in terms of pace and also consistency, which is crucial in maintaining the completely equal environment of F2.

"We're now looking forward to working with Yokohama on further developments ahead of the season opener at Silverstone in April."

As well as the Yokohama deal, F2 announced that its cars will feature carbon brakes this year in a bid to reduce weight and further increase performance.

Palmer said that he expected lap times to fall by an average of two seconds per lap as a result of the changes.

Series champion Mirko Bortolotti, who has conducted much of the testing of the new components, added: "The car felt good and performed really well. The new tyres perfectly suit the car and react well offering increased grip, even at Barcelona which is very hard on tyres.

"These combined well with the new brakes which are 12kg lighter and allowed me to brake harder and later. Throughout the test we were consistently lapping quickly, in and around the 1m34s, and I think from a driver's point of view all these features will improve the feeling of the F2 car and be a good thing for the 2012 season."

AUTOSPORT understands that further upgrades, including revisions to the way that overboost is used during a race weekend, are being evaluated ahead of the new season.

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article AUTOSPORT International show preview
Next article In the magazine: Jim Clark special

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe