Falken Motorsports added two new drives to its 2021 line-up. 

The company said the new joiners, Lance David Arnold and Alessio Picariello, will bring a strong mix of Nordschleife and Porsche experience for the current year.

Arnold is a 34-year-old German TV show presenter and a Nordschleife specialist with experience driving the Porsche 911 GT3 R at the Green Hell. He will join Falken’s long-standing driver Martin Ragginger and his fellow compatriot Klaus Bachler. Ragginger and Bachler led Falken to its first overall victory at the Nurburgring in 2018.

On the other hand, Picariello is a Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific driver and the winner of the LMGTE Drivers’ Championship in the 2020 European Le Mans Series. He will join Former DTM driver and Bathurst 12h winner Dirk Werner and 2018 Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland champion Thomas Preining in the second car. Werner and Preining are returning to the team for 2021 after finishing service with the works team.

The team is also welcoming Sven Muller’s return, who is an experienced Porsche driver with the works team. Muller will support the team with international GT race outings along with the Nürburgring event.

The team will race two Porsche 911 GT3 R cars and take part in seven rounds of the Nurburgring Endurance Series (NLS) and the legendary ADAC 24h Race at the Nurburgring. The season opener is scheduled for the ADAC Westfalenfahrt on March 27th.

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Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. said it has begun supplying its BluEarth-Es ES32 tyres as original equipment to Suzuki Motor Corporation for the Wagon R mini-vehicle, following the model’s launch in Japan in December 2025 after a minor update.

The Wagon R is fitted with 165/55R15 75V tyres.

BluEarth-Es ES32 is a standard tyre under the BluEarth YOKOHAMA global tyre brand, developed around the concept of being “environmentally, human, and socially friendly”. The tyre combines fuel efficiency with extended service life by reducing uneven wear. For the Wagon R, Yokohama Rubber said the tyres use tread patterns and compounds designed to deliver both lower rolling resistance and improved wear resistance.

Suzuki’s updated Wagon R incorporates additional safety features, including the Dual Sensor Brake Support II collision-mitigation braking system. The vehicle is also designed to offer a quiet and comfortable ride, stable steering and a refined exterior.

Yokohama Rubber said it continues to develop tyres using its BluEarth technology, with a growing number of these products being factory-fitted on petrol-powered vehicles, hybrid models and electric vehicles across a range of segments.

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Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. said it has begun supplying its ADVAN Sport ZPS tyres as original equipment to Toyota Motor Corporation for the new GR Yaris, following the model’s launch in the Middle East in December 2025.

The tyre supplied is sized 225/40RF18 88Y.

ADVAN Sport ZPS is derived from the ADVAN Sport, the high-performance tyre in Yokohama Rubber’s global flagship ADVAN brand. It is a run-flat tyre with reinforced sidewalls designed to support the vehicle even in a zero-pressure condition, such as after a puncture. The company said the tyre balances ultra-high-speed handling with wet performance, quietness and comfort.

Yokohama Rubber tyres are already fitted to several models in Toyota’s GR sports car range. In recent years, the company has supplied ADVAN APEX V601 tyres for the GR Corolla and ADVAN FLEVA V701 tyres for the Corolla Cross GR Sport.

The supply forms part of Yokohama Rubber’s three-year medium-term management plan, Yokohama Transformation 2026, covering 2024 to 2026. Under the plan, the consumer tyre business is seeking to increase the proportion of high value-added products, with a focus on expanding original equipment supply of ADVAN tyres and GEOLANDAR tyres for SUVs and pick-up trucks.

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The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has been selected by Toyota to provide its ADVAN V61 tyres as original equipment for the newly launched global hybrid SUV, the RAV4. The tyres, fitted specifically to the Z and ADVENTURE trim levels, come in the sizes 235/65R17 and 235/60R18. This partnership follows the worldwide introduction of the ADVAN V61 in March 2025, a premium summer tyre designed for sport utility vehicles that is now available in all markets except North America.

As part of Yokohama’s flagship ADVAN line, the V61 is engineered to deliver the brand’s signature high performance. It achieves a careful balance between fuel efficiency, stable handling and reduced noise, aiming to provide comfort for both daily urban use and extended journeys in heavier SUVs. The model is already supplied as original equipment on several premium vehicles and is offered in a broad selection of sizes for the aftermarket.

The development of these tyres was supported by Yokohama Rubber’s proprietary HAICoLab, an artificial intelligence framework. This system combines human innovation with the extensive data-processing power of AI to accelerate discovery and foster digital advancements in tyre technology.

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NEXEN TIRE is expanding its original equipment presence in the strategic Chinese electric vehicle market by becoming a tyre supplier for Beijing Hyundai's newly launched ELEXIO, an electric SUV developed specifically for China. This vehicle is the first electric-dedicated model from Beijing Hyundai, utilising the Hyundai Motor Group's Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). For this application, NEXEN TIRE is providing two of its ultra-high-performance tyre models.

The supplied tyres include the N’FERA Supreme S, a flagship all-season tyre designed for both electric and internal combustion engine vehicles. It incorporates an AI-optimised tread pattern to reduce noise and a structure that improves load distribution, enhancing stability for heavier EVs and SUVs. Technologies to maintain performance over time and an aerodynamic sidewall for better energy efficiency are also key features. The second model, the N’FERA Primus QX EV, is a summer tyre engineered specifically for electric vehicles. Its design focuses on improving cornering stability, lateral grip and water evacuation, with a reinforced shoulder and tie-bar technology to provide responsive handling.

This supply agreement marks a significant step in NEXEN TIRE's strategy to grow its original equipment brand in China, a critical market leading global EV adoption. The company has built a strong foundation as a supplier to global automakers since 2012, including providing tyres for other Hyundai and Kia electric models. As original equipment products hold considerable prestige in China, this partnership with Hyundai is anticipated to substantially boost NEXEN TIRE's brand recognition and influence within the local automotive industry.

John Bosco (Hyeon Suk) Kim, CEO, NEXEN TIRE, said, “Supplying OE tyres for the ELEXIO marks an important milestone in demonstrating our electrification capabilities in the strategically important Chinese market. We will continue to expand our global OE partnerships by delivering products optimized for both EVs and ICE vehicles, as well as for other mobility solutions.”

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