Nokian Tyres is establishing a dedicated Research and Development unit in North America to deepen its commitment to the region. This new team will operate in close coordination with the company’s central R&D hub in Finland, with a focused mission on addressing the specific demands of the United States and Canadian markets. To spearhead this effort, Nokian Tyres has appointed Marcus Hancock as the Senior Manager of Research and Development, effective 1 October.

Hancock brings over 35 years of extensive expertise as a tyre design engineer and technical leader. His career includes a 19-year period at Cooper Tire, where he advanced from a technical assistant to the General Manager of their European Technical Centre. Most recently, he served as the Quality Manager at Nokian Tyres’ manufacturing facility in Dayton, Tennessee, a plant known for its award-winning production of all-season and all-weather tyres for the North American market.

The creation of this local R&D function is designed to significantly accelerate product development and sales initiatives tailored to the region. This investment complements other recent strategic actions by Nokian Tyres, such as a major distribution partnership with American Tire Distributors and the hiring of key commercial leaders. By embedding its technical expertise directly within the market, the company aims to enhance its responsiveness and strengthen its position for future growth across the continent.

Chris Ostrander, Senior Vice President – North America, Nokian Tyres, said, “Marcus has deep technical knowledge that will help us serve dealers and drivers like never before. He will help us continue strengthening our product portfolio in the US and Canada by incorporating feedback from our customers and partnering with our global team.”

Teemu Soini, Vice President – Innovation and Development, Nokian Tyres, said, “As our presence grows in North America, it is more important than ever to tailor our tyres to the demands of drivers in the region. Marcus is deeply qualified to help us incorporate the needs of American and Canadian customers into our product development process.”

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Sailun Tire USA has formally acquired Vogue Tyre, a renowned name in the premium tyre market with a celebrated 110-year history. This strategic merger is positioned to initiate a significant new chapter focused on innovation and market growth, with the combined entity aiming to establish unprecedented industry standards.

The two companies are not new to collaboration, having built a strong manufacturing partnership over the past 10 years based on a shared commitment to superior quality and advanced design. This existing relationship provides a solid foundation for the newly unified organisation to become a powerful force within the premium tyre sector.

The acquisition marks a major acceleration of Sailun’s strategy to penetrate the high-end market. By integrating Vogue Tyre’s long-standing legacy of luxury and style, Sailun gains considerable brand prestige and is equipped to make a more substantial impact with high-performance products. For the existing network of Vogue dealers, this transition brings a promising future. They will benefit from Sailun’s extensive global resources, which will translate into enhanced product development, greater market access and an improved ability to meet customer demands. Together, Sailun Tire USA and Vogue Tyre are creating a platform for future breakthroughs and expanded opportunities.

Peter Koszo, CEO, Sailun North America, said, “This is a defining moment. Vogue Tyre is not just a brand – it is a statement. By integrating Vogue into the Sailun family, we are merging world-class manufacturing strength with a legendary name in premium automotive styling. Together, we are creating new possibilities for dealers, customers and enthusiasts who refuse to settle for the ordinary.”

Greg Hathcock, President, Vogue Tyre, said, “As we recently celebrated our 110th anniversary, this acquisition is the ultimate way to honour our legacy – by securing an even stronger future. Vogue Tyre has always been about standing out, pushing limits and defining what’s next. With Sailun behind us, the road ahead is limitless.”

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The JK Tyre Racing Season 2025 moves to Coimbatore's Kari Motor Speedway for its second round on 27 and 28 September. This penultimate event of the season will feature intense competition across three categories: the JK Tyre Novice Cup, the Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup and the season debut of the new Levitas Cup, promising a weekend of high-speed action. This flagship event, now in its 28th year, continues to be a cornerstone of Indian motorsport, offering a critical platform for both aspiring and professional racers to showcase their talent.

A major highlight of the weekend is the inaugural round of the JK Tyre Levitas Cup. This single-make series will field a grid of identically prepared Maruti Suzuki Ignis race cars, driven by a mix of 14 rookies and gentlemen drivers. This format creates a perfectly level playing field where driver skill is paramount. While the stock Ignis produces 82 horsepower from its 1.2-litre engine, the race-spec versions have undergone significant performance upgrades, including a standalone ECU, a cold air intake and a free-flow exhaust system to enhance power and responsiveness.

In the Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup, the Pro-Am championship battle is heating up. Bengaluru’s Anish Shetty dominates the Professional class after a strong first round, leading with 30 points. He faces determined pursuit from Mumbai’s Kayan Patel and defending champion Navaneeth Kumar from Pondicherry. The Amateur class is equally competitive, with Pondicherry’s Bryan Nicholas holding a perfect score, though closely trailed by Johring Warisa and Saran Kumar, setting the stage for an electrifying contest.

The JK Tyre Novice Cup for single-seater cars also promises a fierce rivalry. Teenage sensation Bhuvan Bonu from Bengaluru established an early lead with a commanding victory in the first round, securing 30 points for Team MSport. However, the championship is far from decided. Prathik Ashok and Ojas Surve, both of Team DTS Racing, remain within striking distance, having finished just seconds behind. With the points gap narrow, the competition for the title is expected to intensify significantly at Kari Motor Speedway.

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Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has announced a significant victory for its global flagship ADVAN brand tyres in the GT500 class during Round 6 of the 2025 AUTOBACS SUPER GT Series. The event, a 300-km race held at Miyagi Prefecture's Sportsland SUGO, marked the first GT500 win of the season for a vehicle equipped with ADVAN tyres, highlighting the product's reliable and solid performance under demanding racing conditions.

The victorious car was the No. 24 REALIZE CORPORATION ADVAN Z, fielded by KONDO RACING and driven by Tsugio Matsuda and Teppei Natori. Beginning the race from fifth position, Matsuda demonstrated exceptional skill during the initial stint, achieving a temporary lead by lap 24 and engaging in a continuous battle at the front of the pack before the driver change. The race saw a major incident on lap 49 involving multiple cars, which brought about a temporary halt. Upon resumption for a final 30-minute segment, Natori, now behind the wheel, was in third place. He swiftly advanced to second and began methodically closing the gap to the race leader. In a dramatic finale, Natori entered the last lap directly behind the leading car and, after an intense struggle, seized the lead just before the checkered flag.

This comeback victory represents a major milestone for all involved. It is KONDO RACING's first win in nine years and elevates driver Tsugio Matsuda's record for most GT500 class victories to 25. For his co-driver, Teppei Natori, the event marked his inaugural GT500 win. The success of the ADVAN brand was further underscored in the GT300 class, where two cars using the tyres finished on the podium. KONDO RACING's No. 56 REALIZE NISSAN MECHANIC CHALLENGE GT-R secured second place, while the No. 666 entry from seven × seven PORSCHE GT3R finished third, cementing a highly successful weekend for Yokohama Rubber’s racing products.

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Messe Frankfurt UK, the British subsidiary of the globally prominent B2B trade fair organiser, has relocated its headquarters to London’s Blue Fin Building on the South Bank. This strategic relocation underscores the company’s intent to foster closer ties within the UK exhibition industry by situating itself near key partners, clients and venues.

The company first entered the UK market in 2016 with the launch of Automechanika Birmingham, an event that has since garnered multiple awards. The success of this show led to the formal creation of the UK subsidiary in 2018. Its current portfolio is centred on the automotive aftermarket, featuring the flagship Automechanika Birmingham trade show, which spans 11,000 square metres and attracts thousands of visitors. The portfolio also includes The UK Garage and Bodyshop Event, launched in 2022 and a digital directory named auto:resource. Beyond organising its own events, the UK team promotes Messe Frankfurt’s extensive worldwide portfolio of over 150 trade fairs to British businesses.

With a team of 15, Messe Frankfurt UK views the move to London as a catalyst for its next phase of expansion. The company plans to drive future growth through strategic acquisitions, the launch of new events and industry partnerships. This ambitious strategy is founded upon a culture that prioritises its people, agility and a commitment to innovation.

Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt, said, “The move to London underscores our ambition to be a major player in the UK market. We’re evolving from a one-show operation into a fully-fledged, multi-faceted exhibition business.”

Simon Albert, Managing Director, Messe Frankfurt UK, said, “This is a pivotal moment for our UK business. A company of our size and reputation belongs in the capital. The move has energised our team, they’re more creative, more collaborative, and most importantly, they’re having fun.”

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