Parth Ghorpade got bitten by the racing bug at a young age. He started racing Go karts at the age of nine and went on to become  a five times National Karting Champion between 2003-2010, while also representing India at the Rotax World Finals in 2008,2009 & 2010.

In 2010 Parth moved on to cars and was the VW Polo Cup Vice Champion. His International racing career started with the French FFSA Renault F4 Championship in 2011 and in 2012 he was the Asian Champion in Formula Pilota China.

Parth levelled up by becoming the first Indian driver to test at the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2013. Today he is an experienced racer in Formula Renault , Formula 3, Lamborghini Super Trofeo , LMP3 in the Ultimate Cup and LMP2 in the European Le Mans series. His goal is to continue racing in the LMP2 category and progress to the World Endurance Championship.

The champion racer talked to Tyre Trends on one of the most critical elements in motorsports – tyres.

You’ve been racing since 2003, over the years, you’ve had many victories. How important a role have tyres played in your races?

Tyres are as critical to winning as the engine and chassis. While race tyres are built to the highest standards of quality ,sometimes you do get a set that works better than average, at other times you might get a set that is not uniform. Your performance will vary accordingly.

Choosing the right tyre at the right time is crucial. Do you have a checkpoint list that you go through to determine which tyre you should use?

It is only in the FIA F3, F2, and F1 that you get a choice of multiple dry and wet compounds. Most other series have just one type of dry and wet tyre. Which compound to use is a complex decision based on track conditions, set ups, driving styles and tyre wear. Races are won and lost on tyre strategies and tyre strategies are constantly evolving.

Tyres (The Dark Art) - Managing your tyres is a tricky thing for a driver. Keeping the tyres in a correct temperature range, not too hot and not too cold. How do you manage the balance between the two?

It is important not to overdrive and overheat your tyres in the early stages of a qualifying lap or the race itself. A lot depends upon your driving style! The smoother the better, for tyre wear. At the same time, slow running behind a safety car requires continuous weaving and braking to maintain tyre and brake temperature. Same applies when coming into the grid for the start. Engineers will tell you how many wheel spins to do before the grid spot.

As an experienced Formula 1 driver, do you weigh in on the choice of tyres needed for a race or does the Team take a decision on their own?

In the series I have raced (single seaters and endurance prototypes), everyone uses the same slick or wet tyre. But the engineers do take into consideration the track conditions and characteristics in choosing tyre pressures, ideal lap times to prevent premature tyre wear and at the same time maintain a good pace. Sometimes the start may be on a damp/wet track which is expected to dry out later. It is always difficult to decide whether to start on wet tyres or slicks. This is where the experience and skill of the driver is important.The right call can get you a podium!  Personally, I am very comfortable in wet racing conditions, but whatever the conditions, you still need to manage your tyres over a race distance, and also maximise their potential during qualifying.

The new tyre rules for 2020 have been delayed till 2022. Do you feel that the new tyre rules would have made a big difference in how a race car performs on the track?

For 2022, the 13inch wheels will be replaced by 18inch wheels. Thus, we will be looking at a heavier and a lower profile tyre which is expected to be upto 2 seconds slower than the current tyre. However, these low-profile tyres may be less sensitive aerodynamically and may encourage closer racing. The teams will come up with new changes on the chassis to make up for the small loss of speed.

Any advice for young racing aspirants?

Motorsports is an expensive sport, especially if you aspire to reach the top levels. It is not possible to practice like other sports, so you have to adapt to limited testing opportunities and at the same time maintain a very high level of physical and mental fitness. Top level karting is the foundation of your race craft and driving techniques and it is important to invest time and money in this first rather than go straight to cars.

There are opportunities to develop karting skills via the Rotax championships and entry level experience in cars here. But if you aspire to race professionally, then the sooner you start racing in Europe or Asia the better. We do not have the infrastructure or number of races in India to develop beyond a certain point. If you have the will, and the financial backing , go for it.

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Continental has introduced a special-edition tyre set for the 2026 Tour de France, merging its two most advanced road offerings into a single commemorative package. The release pairs the aerodynamically focused Aero 111 with the endurance-tested Grand Prix 5000 S TR, both dressed in translucent sidewalls and exclusive race insignia that distinguish them from standard production models.

Available only as a bundled pair, the front tyre measures 29 mm while the rear comes in at 30 mm, a configuration aimed at optimising both steering precision and rolling efficiency. This marks the debut of the Aero 111 in a transparent finish, giving riders a visually distinctive option without compromising the tread technology that reduces drag and harnesses crosswind energy for forward momentum.

The front tyre's specialised pattern has already proven effective in competitive settings, including early-season classics, by working in tandem with modern wheel profiles to maintain speed under variable wind conditions. Paired with the Grand Prix 5000 S TR, known for its balance of low resistance and dependable traction, the combination addresses the full spectrum of race-day demands. Both tyres share Continental's BlackChili rubber compound and Vectran reinforcement, supporting tubeless setups as well as hookless rims.

Several professional squads across the men's and women's pelotons, including UAE Team Emirates-XRG, Movistar, Bahrain-Victorious, Decathlon CMA CGM, Groupama-FDJ United and Uno-X Mobility, are slated to use the limited-edition tyres during this year's Tour de France and its female counterpart. Weighing 265 grammes for the front and 305 grammes for the rear, the package delivers a race-ready system that merges aesthetic distinction with field-proven performance characteristics.

Hannah Ferle, Road Product Manager, Continental Tires, said, "With this year's Tour de France Limited Edition, we wanted to bring together two products that represent the very best of Continental road performance. The Aero 111 continues to demonstrate how much untapped performance exists within the tyre itself, while the Grand Prix 5000 S TR remains the benchmark for speed, grip and reliability. Together, they create a unique package worthy of cycling's biggest race."

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Bridgestone Golf has unveiled the latest iteration of its premier ball franchise, the e6 SOFT TREADLINE, which now features the innovative 360 Align Tech. As the longest-running and best-selling series in the company’s history, this new model draws inspiration from the Bridgestone Dueler A/T Ascent tyre, applying tread-like technology to the golf ball’s design. The launch reinforces the brand’s commitment to blending automotive engineering insights with golf performance.

The new e6 SOFT TREADLINE maintains the core engineering that has defined its predecessors, including a large, soft and fast core with gradational compression to maximise ball speed and distance. Its seamless Surlyn cover ensures durability and responsive feedback, while advanced aerodynamic patterns promote stability during flight. This combination produces a high launch with low spin off the tee, alongside reliable short-game feel and control around the greens.

Central to the new design is the 360 Align Tech, a full-coverage alignment aid that wraps entirely around the ball. This feature assists golfers in putting precision, visualising roll, squaring the putter face and aiming with greater confidence while also supporting a repeatable pre-shot routine. The tread pattern provides a visible reference from any angle, helping players achieve cleaner setup visuals and improved target awareness.

Available now as a limited-edition two-piece model, the Bridgestone e6 SOFT TREADLINE is priced at USD 23.99 per dozen. Golfers seeking guidance on the ideal ball for their game can utilise the online Golf Ball Selection Guide available on the company’s official website.

Adam Rehberg, Senior Marketing Manager of golf balls at Bridgestone Golf, said, “Our research showed golfers are increasingly looking for more advanced visual alignment technology both on the tee and on the greens, and the 360-degree TREADLINE pattern is designed to deliver a highly effective solution in both environments. By integrating design inspiration from the Bridgestone Dueler A/T Ascent tyre, we were able to create a performance-driven alignment system with a unique connection to the broader Bridgestone brand.”

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Tegeta Green Planet has launched a significant educational initiative across the Borjomi region of Georgia, designed to cultivate environmental stewardship among the youth. The programme, which commenced in 2022, holds a pioneering status as one of the first organisations in the country authorised by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture under the Extended Producer Responsibility framework. This authorisation underscores the company's commitment to managing the full lifecycle of specific waste streams, including used tyres, oils and batteries, in alignment with circular economy principles.

The initiative recently brought company representatives to Public Schools No. 3, No. 4 and No. 6 in Borjomi, as well as the Kvibisi Public School. The programme’s location is strategically significant, given that Borjomi is celebrated for its unique natural environment, mineral waters and vital forest ecosystems. The region’s sustainable development is inherently linked to the preservation of its natural heritage, making the education of local youth a critical component for its future.

During the school visits, students were introduced to the technicalities of waste stream management, learning the proper handling procedures for tyres, batteries and oils. The curriculum emphasised the environmental necessity of correct disposal and explained the broader connection to a circular economy, demonstrating how discarded materials can be transformed into valuable resources. The sessions highlighted how individual responsibility directly contributes to broader environmental protection and sustainable societal growth.

The educational format employed by Tegeta Green Planet was highly interactive, moving beyond traditional lectures. The programme featured presentations followed by engaging activities and educational games to reinforce learning, encouraging active participation from the students. The workshops provided a platform for open dialogue, where young attendees posed questions and proposed local solutions for creating eco-friendly communities. To make the experience more memorable and rewarding, symbolic gifts were distributed to all participants at the conclusion of the sessions.

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China’s Longmarch Group has initiated construction on a substantial tyre manufacturing venture in Egypt, valued at EGP 9.5 billion (EUR 160 million). The official groundbreaking was confirmed on 17 June by the Suez Canal Economic Zone's general authority. The new facility, named Longmarch Tyre (Egypt) Ltd, will be situated within the integrated industrial zone of Ain Sokhna, occupying a sprawling 200,000-square-metre site.

The development is structured as a two-phase project. The initial stage is designed to achieve an annual production capacity of 600,000 units for trucks and buses. Upon completion of the second phase, the plant's total output for these tyres will escalate to one million units per year, alongside an additional annual capacity of 4.5 million passenger car radial tyres.

Production from the Egyptian plant is primarily intended to satisfy local market demand, though the company also has clear ambitions to target export markets across the region and beyond. Longmarch Group’s chairman, Jin Yong Sheng, lauded the investment climate within the Suez Canal Economic Zone, highlighting its strategic location and superior logistical advantages as key factors for the company's expansion.

Established in 2003, Longmarch already operates a production base in Chaoyang, China, and manages a tyre joint venture in Pakistan. The Egyptian project marks a significant milestone in the firm's global strategy, leveraging the economic zone's competitive environment to strengthen its international footprint.

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