Kumho to develop tires for Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
Providing tires for VICI Racing and its Porsche 911 GT3 RSR In ALMS
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA (February 28, 2008)… Kumho Tire has agreed to provide tires for VICI Racing and its Porsche 911 GT3 RSR in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) in 2008.
At the heart of the partnership will be an innovative tire development program designed specifically for the Porsche RSR and the ALMS GT2 class championship. VICI Racing will contest the season with a 2008-specification Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, starting at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, with a second car joining the line-up later on.
“We’re delighted to announce this tire development program and to welcome Kumho Tire as a team partner,” said Ron C. Meixner, VICI Racing President. “Kumho Tire fits perfectly with our strategic values. It is a young, ambitious company that has already achieved much success in several motorsports arenas. I have been thoroughly impressed with the company’s focus and energy and its overwhelming desire to win. This will be a very tough development project, undertaken right from the start through a full racing program, and will require total dedication and a will to succeed. With Kumho Tire I am completely satisfied we will achieve the project’s goals.”
Kumho has been involved in the American Le Mans Series for the last three years, running with a variety of teams in the LMP1 and LMP2 classes. After earning an LMP2 class win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans last June, Kumho tested the GT2 waters at the Mid-Ohio ALMS race in July, supplying tires for a one-off effort for the Woodhouse Performance Dodge Viper. The car, team and tires all performed well, leaving Kumho motorsports manager Rudy Consolacion eager for a full-season effort in GT2.
“The Viper was a great test for us, and we’ve had good success with our racing tires in Japanese Super GT,” noted Consolacion. “GT2 cars are harder on tires because they’re heavier than the prototype cars and they don’t make as much downforce. They rely on mechanical grip rather than aerodynamic grip so the tire really has to perform. We are eager to work closely with Porsche and VICI to develop a winning GT2 tire. GT2 is the most competitive class in the American Le Mans Series, so we’ll be making some radical changes that will put our tire technology on the leading edge. We won’t stand still.
“VICI Racing has more than two decades of sportscar racing experience in GT and prototype categories,” said Consolacion. “VICI also has a long-term association with Porsche, which is one of the most successful of all sportscar racing brands. VICI and the Porsche RSR will make great partners for Kumho in this challenging new venture.”
About VICI Racing: VICI Racing is based in Miami, Florida, and Munich, Germany and has more than 20 years of experience competing at the highest levels of international sportscar racing, in both GT and prototype categories, in Europe and the United States. VICI Racing is a wholly owned subsidiary of the VICI Group, which is comprised of technology-led companies. The VICI Racing roll call of wins includes a GT class victory in the 24 Hours of Daytona. For more information visit www.viciracing.com
