Falken Motorsports has announced that it will send two Porsche 911 GT3 R and a stable of eight drivers to the Nordschleife for the annual 24-hour race and select Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) rounds. 

The driver line-up for Falken in 2022 is a strong mix of youth and experience spearheaded by Falken regulars Klaus Bachler, Sven Müller and Martin Ragginger.
Bachler has been racing for Falken since 2017 and was part of Falken’s maiden overall win at the Nordschleife in 2018 in the NLS (formerly VLN) together with Ragginger. 

Ragginger is an integral part of the team and the Austrian has been competing with Falken at the Nürburgring since the team became a Porsche customer team in 2011. This year, Ragginger will embark on his 12th Nordschleife campaign and still has his sights set on an overall win at the Nürburgring 24-hour race, the company said in a release. 

Sven Müller has also been part of the Falken squad for several years. The 30-year-old has multiple podium finishes with the team, most recently at last year's season finale when he narrowly missed out on overall victory together with Martin Ragginger. 

The Falken regulars will receive support from five other hugely successful GT drivers during the year. One of them is newcomer Jaxon Evans, who obtained his Nordschleife racing permit last year. While the New Zealander is new to competing at the Nürburgring, he has a wealth of experience racing with Porsche around the world. In recent years, Evans has been successful in single-make competitions including the Mobil 1 Porsche Supercup, a support series of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship. 

Porsche development driver Lars Kern continues his relationship with Falken in 2022 after joining the team at the end of the 2021 season. At home on the Nordschleife, he has set numerous lap records on the ‘Green Hell’. Belgian Alessio Picariello also returns after competing with Falken last year in the NLS and making his Nurburgring 24 Hours debut. 

Frenchman Patrick Pilet and German Macro Seefried complete the line-up. Pilet is hungry for more success with Falken after achieving a strong set of results two years ago with the Japanese tyre manufacturer. Seefried shares the same level of ambition upon returning to the team. Widely considered a GT3 specialist, he has already competed in a variety of cars on the Nordschleife – including a BMW M6 GT3 entered by Falken Motorsports in 2017. 

The start of the Nürburgring Endurance Series season is scheduled for 26 March 2022. The highlight of the year, the legendary 24-hour race at the Nürburgring, will take place from 25-29 May 2022. (TT)  

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The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has been officially recognised as a DX Certified Business Operator by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). The designation, which was granted on 1 September 2025, identifies companies that are thoroughly prepared for digital transformation as outlined by the Digital Governance Code.

This certification acknowledges Yokohama Rubber's comprehensive strategy for digital transformation, which is built on three core objectives: advancing business strategy, contributing to sustainability and reinforcing its IT infrastructure. Central to this effort is the company's proprietary AI framework, HAICoLab (Humans and AI ColLaborate), which drives group-wide digital initiatives. These include improving productivity, innovating processes, developing digital talent and building a global cloud-based IT system. The certification confirms that the company's efforts not only meet METI's stringent criteria but also demonstrate appropriate disclosure of information to its stakeholders.

Moving forward, the company said it will continue to leverage data from its entire value chain to adapt to a dynamic business environment. The company aims to enhance customer value, pursue sustainable innovation and transform its corporate culture to strengthen its competitive position and ensure long-term growth.

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TyresNmore, the automotive aftermarket e-commerce platform owned by RPG Group, has promoted Rakesh Tatikonda to Chief Executive Officer and announced the change with immediate effect.

Tatikonda, who previously oversaw business operations at the Mumbai-based firm, will spearhead the organisation’s expansion and innovation strategy. The appointment advances RPG Group’s ‘Talent First!’ policy, which rewards internal promotions and develops employees.

The new chief executive brings over 15 years of industry experience, having worked across multiple sectors with companies such as telecommunications giant Reliance Jio and IT services provider Infosys. Before joining TyresNmore in 2022, Tatikonda held senior positions at tyre manufacturer CEAT, where he developed expertise in strategy, operations, marketing and digital transformation.

“My aim is to transform automotive aftercare in India by offering seamless, tech-driven, end-to-end mobility solutions delivered with trust, transparency, and convenience right at the customer’s doorstep,” Tatikonda said in a statement.

TyresNmore operates a doorstep service model for tyre and battery replacement across six major Indian cities: Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai. The platform represents RPG Group’s entry into the growing automotive aftermarket sector, which has seen increased digitisation as consumers seek convenient maintenance solutions.

During his tenure in operations, Tatikonda scaled the business and improved profitability while driving digital transformation initiatives. His track record shows he strengthened operational efficiency and enhanced customer experience in the mobility convenience sector.

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Vaculug, Europe’s largest independent retreader producing high-quality OTR and truck retread tyres for fleets across the UK and Europe, has expanded its UK presence by acquiring Tyrefair in Kinross, Scotland.

This strategic acquisition extends the company's award-winning service further north, ensuring Scottish customers receive the same high-quality OTR and truck retread tyres Vaculug has supplied for 75 years. Since the purchase, the Kinross location has already grown by 25 percent, with an ambitious target to double its business within a year and then double it again.

This move is a key part of Vaculug's 2026 growth strategy, focused on strategic acquisitions that enable better, faster and more sustainable customer service. The acquisition reinforces Vaculug’s long-standing environmental mission, marking a new chapter of sustainable growth with a strengthened Scottish operation.

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Nokian Tyres is expanding its US presence through a new nationwide partnership with American Tire Distributors (ATD). This agreement provides Nokian access to ATD’s vast network of over 110 distribution centres, serving roughly 80,000 customers.

The collaboration will efficiently supply tyre shops with Nokian’s complete product lineup, enabling dealers to broaden their inventory. Both companies bring 90 years of experience and a shared dedication to innovation, safety and sustainability. This partnership will offer drivers more choices, supported by Nokian’s award-winning Tennessee factory and ATD’s technology-driven logistics.

This enhanced distribution capability ensures that consumers will have greater access to a full spectrum of high-performance tyres, meeting diverse driving needs and conditions. The alliance strengthens both brands' market positions by combining premium products with an unparalleled delivery system, ultimately improving service for dealers and drivers alike across the country.

Chris Ostrander, SVP, North America, Nokian Tyres, said, “The partnership with ATD enables us to reach more tyre shops and more drivers than ever before. ATD’s robust distribution network, customer service and responsiveness strengthen our agility to serve both new and existing customers.”

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