Team MRF Tyres has won the final round of European Rally Championship 2024 at the Rally of Silesia, Poland. Andrea Mabellini and Virginia Lenzi (ITA) steered the team to victory, participating in Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, and became the eighth different winner of the eight round 2024 FIA European Rally Championship.

Mabellini's maiden European career triumph was made possible by the exceptional performance of the Italian crew, who was placed second in the last championship round at the JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion. As the first Italian to win a European rally outside of Italy in 13 years, this is a noteworthy outcome. With this outcome, Mabellini concluded the season in fourth position, just a few points below third place, and made a substantial contribution to Team MRF Tyres' second-place finish in the rankings.

As the only driver to fight two-time European champion and former WRC driver Hayden Paddon, Mabellini was in the running from the beginning, finishing second in the opening show stage. After a fierce duel that lasted down to the tenths of a second, Mabellini's triumph on SS11 on Day 2 marked a turning point and put him in the lead. The pivotal moment came three stages from the finish: following a largely dry rally, the rain and shifting weather conditions made tyre selection extremely important. Mabellini showed maturity by driving with both speed and precision while Team MRF Tyres made no mistakes. By the finish, he had increased his advantage from a slim 1.9-second cushion to 18.3 seconds.

Amaury Molle (B) and Alex Dubois (FRA) of Team MRF Tyres also finished in Katowice with their Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo. After an accident at the Barum Czech Rally Zlín two months ago, the Belgian driver returned and showed steady performance. Molle fought hard to restore confidence and consistency, achieving outstanding times, including sixth on SS11, despite the extremely unpredictable circumstances.

Mabellini said, “I’m extremely happy. I want to thank Team MRF Tyres for believing in me from the start. We’ve worked hard together, and achieving this result is a huge satisfaction for all of us. A big thanks also to Virginia, who understands me perfectly, guides me, and without whom I wouldn’t be able to give my best, and to everyone who supported us from Italy. It’s been an incredible weekend, a season finale to remember. We’re enjoying this moment.”

Molle said, “It’s been a weekend full of positives. I know it will take time to fully regain my rhythm and the confidence to push at 100 percent, but I felt a great connection with the car, and Alex and I did a good job, improving stage by stage. We made a small mistake on the final stage but that doesn’t change our outlook on the weekend’s result. Thanks to Team MRF Tyres for this opportunity; now we have the winter to prepare and focus on our 2025 season.”

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Hankook Tire, the official tyre supplier to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), concluded its participation in the 2026 Safari Rally Kenya, which took place in Naivasha, Kenya, with the event wrapping up on 15 March 2026. The challenging terrain of the Kenyan savanna provided a rigorous test for Hankook’s specialised equipment. Throughout the rally, the company provided its Dynapro R213 tyre, engineered specifically for severe off-road conditions. This extreme all-terrain tyre was available in Hard and Soft compounds and featured a robust casing structure alongside an optimised tread design. These characteristics ensured reliable grip and accurate steering response despite the demands of high-speed rallying.

A key development was the introduction of an upgraded soft gravel tyre at this event. It delivered superior traction on wet and slippery sections while retaining its structural integrity amidst the unpredictable conditions. The rally unfolded across the rugged landscapes of Naivasha and the Great Rift Valley, where competitors faced sharp rocks, deep sand and treacherous fesh-fesh dust. Fluctuating weather further compounded the difficulty, making consistent tyre performance critical for drivers to reach the finish line. Ultimately, Toyota Gazoo Racing's Takamoto Katsuta emerged victorious after four gruelling days, reinforcing the event's reputation as one of the season's most demanding.

Looking ahead, the championship moves to Europe for its fourth round, the WRC Croatia Rally 2026, scheduled from 9 to 12 April 2026 along the Adriatic coast. Returning to the WRC calendar after being part of the European Championship in 2025, the rally has generated significant interest with its redesigned route that navigates both coastal and mountainous terrain. For this event, Hankook will supply its Ventus Z215 and Z210 tyres, high-performance tarmac compounds designed to meet the rigorous demands of the course. These tyres have previously proven their effectiveness in similar environments, such as during the 2025 Rally Islas Canarias, where coastal and mountainous stages demanded exceptional vehicle control and tyre resilience.

Since taking over as the exclusive tyre supplier for all WRC classes in 2025, Hankook has leveraged data from its involvement in over 70 global motorsport championships. The company applies these race-proven insights to advance its ultra-high-performance tyre technology, continually reinforcing its leadership in the field.

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Flexsys, a global speciality chemicals and materials technology company, has announced an increase in regional prices for Insoluble Sulphur products with effect from 23 March 2026.

The price increase schedule is as follows:

• Asia: USD 0.60 per kg
• Europe: EUR 0.45 per kg
• North America: USD 0.40 per kg
• Latin America: USD 0.40 per kg

The driving forces behind these significant pricing actions are multifaceted, rooted in substantial disruptions to global supply chains. These disruptions are largely attributed to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has had a cascading effect on logistics. Compounding this issue are the sharply rising costs associated with transportation and essential raw materials.

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Yokohama Rubber has announced that it will supply ADVAN racing tyres for a newly developed BMW M Motorsport entry set to compete in this year’s Nürburgring 24-Hour Race and the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS). As an official partner of BMW M Motorsport, the company is supporting the BMW M3 Touring 24H, a vehicle designed specifically for the Nürburgring circuit and built with fans in mind.

This special model shares its technical foundation with the BMW M4 GT3 EVO but is constructed using the body shell of the BMW M3 Touring. It measures 200 millimetres longer and stands 32 millimetres taller than its GT3 counterpart, including the rear wing. Despite these dimensional differences, the mechanical specifications of both vehicles remain identical. The car will compete in the SPX class, a category dedicated to high-performance experimental vehicles and concept cars with unique modifications that do not conform to other classifications. This class plays a key role in testing and refining new automotive technologies.

Yokohama’s renewed involvement with BMW M Motorsport at the Nürburgring marks a significant return, as the two last collaborated at this event between 1980 and 1990, a period during which they secured two overall victories. This season represents their first partnership at the track in nearly four decades. In addition to supplying tyres for the BMW M3 Touring 24H, Yokohama will also equip the BMW M4 GT3 EVO, which is entered in the SP9 class for GT3-spec production vehicles.

Beyond its work with BMW, Yokohama Rubber will provide tyres to several leading teams participating in both the Nürburgring endurance series and the iconic 24-hour race, further extending its presence in one of the world’s most demanding motorsport events.

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Hankook Tire is all prepped up to spotlight its technological leadership on an international platform as a key sponsor during the TGL 2026 playoffs. The doubleheader Semifinals are set for 17 March 2026 at Florida’s SoFi Center. As the league’s first Official Tyre Partner and a Founding Partner, Hankook has elevated its brand visibility across 150 global markets. Through its association with high-tech sports entertainment and TGL’s six teams – featuring PGA Tour stars like Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy – the company has created an immersive brand experience that merges innovation with elite competition.

The semifinal round brings together the top four regular-season finishers. The opening match pits the second-seeded Los Angeles Golf Club against the third-seeded Atlanta Drive GC. These two teams have built a competitive history, each claiming one victory against the other over the last two seasons. Atlanta has excelled in Singles sessions, driven by strong outings from Billy Horschel and Chris Gotterup. Meanwhile, Los Angeles has gained an edge in Triples play thanks to the consistency of Collin Morikawa and Justin Rose. How each side adapts to the alternating formats will likely shape the outcome.

The second semifinal features a compelling clash between the top-seeded Boston Common Golf and the fourth-seeded Jupiter Links GC. Boston, powered by standout performances from Keegan Bradley and Rory McIlroy, secured the most regular-season wins and earned the top seed after missing the playoffs last year. Jupiter Links, making its first semifinal appearance, has leveraged ‘The Hammer’ scoring system effectively in Season 2. Max Homa and Kevin Kisner lead the league in Singles Holes Won, highlighting the team’s balanced strength. With TGL co-founders Woods and McIlroy at the helm of opposing teams, this matchup has captured the attention of the golf world.

The winners will move on to the Finals on 23 and 24 March 2026. The championship round will follow a best-of-three structure, with the victor claiming the SoFi Cup and the 2026 title.

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