The 59th running of the Rally Sweden will mark a significant milestone for DMACK Tyres as it takes on the ultimate challenge of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) for the very first time.
Chinese tyre brand DMACK has come a long way in just five months. In September 2010, after technical scrutiny in front of the FIA, it was appointed as one of only two tyre manufacturers sanctioned to supply this season’s world rally crews alongside global tyre brand Michelin. After a rigorous testing and development programme, headed by test driver Mark Higgins, DMACK met the FIA’s 20th December deadline to register its final tyre specifications.
DMACK has taken full advantage of the FIA sporting regulations for 2011 which encouraged new tyre manufacturers to enter the WRC. The technical rule changes made it more achievable for a new tyre manufacturer to enter the world rally championship market.
DMACK will aim its supply at privateer teams and support category competitors by offering strong, durable, high quality tyres at affordable prices. The pricing structure will allow drivers on a more limited budget to take advantage of a product offering high levels of performance and durability with the option of on-event expertise and technical support.
But now the biggest test of all will be one of the most challenging events on this year’s calendar. Rally Sweden is known for its seriously low temperatures and demands impressive tyre technology. DMACK will supply competitors with its DMG-ICE tyre which is equipped with 382 metal studs, protruding 6.5mm, to bite into the frozen ice and snow which dominates the route – providing impressive levels of grip on the frozen surfaces.
Stud retention is a vital aspect of Rally Sweden. In recent years, the lack of snow on some of the Swedish stages meant the gravel roads started to rip studs from the tyre causing deterioration in grip and traction. The DMG-ICE’s novel asymmetric tread pattern means that crews can use the same tyre on either side of the car – delivering greater flexibility and a more cost-effective solution to competitors.
In a bid to provide even more affordable options, DMACK has offered exclusive incentives to competitors running on its tyres. Any class 2 or class 6 competitor who takes overall victory in that class will receive 50% off their tyre bill for that event. In addition, any Production WRC competitor who uses DMACK tyres for the entire season and takes overall victory in the PWRC drivers’ championship will receive a free tyre package for the entire 2012 PWRC season.
DMACK will supply a number of teams and drivers on Rally Sweden including SWRC front-runner Martin Prokop, Martin Semerad and the two Abu Dhabi drivers Majed Al Shamsi and Bader Al Jabri.
Dick Cormack, DMACK Tyres motorsport director, said: “The WRC, as a series, is the ideal global platform for us to showcase the brand and next week will see the culmination of many months of hard work. It will be fantastic to see a DMACK tyre on the start line of the opening world rally championship event. We are looking forward to the rally and are happy with how the testing and development programme has progressed. Since gaining authorisation from the FIA to supply tyres in the championship alongside Michelin, we’ve achieved a lot and worked hard to develop what we believe is a product which suits our customers. We are confident our DMG-ICE tyre can perform well in terms of stud retention which is a key factor in this rally.”
– Credit: www.dmacktyres.com