Start of today's first WTCC race YOKOHAMA ADVAN ALL-ROUND PERFORMER


Media information, 3 June 2007


Street circuits are a challenge for any touring car driver but Yokohama made sure that the ADVANs were the tyre to have on the narrow streets of Pau this weekend for round seven and eight of the FIA World Touring Car Championship's (WTCC).

With instant and constant grip provided throughout today's races by the Japanese tyres, both front and rear-wheeled cars were equally matched; Chevrolet's Alain Menu won this morning's race and BMW driver Augusto Farfus took the chequered flag first in this afternoon's race.

The Brazilian BMW driver was understandably delighted with his performance and said: "From this weekend I think that both front and rear-wheeled cars are balanced, everyone seems to be on the same level.

"We had quite a long race, 19-laps, on a street circuit which is asking quite a lot of the tyres but I had good pace throughout the afternoon so I think the tyres did a good job. Next round is going to be a different challenge for us because we will have the maximum weight ballast so Brno should be interesting!"

Two-time WTCC Champion Andy Priaulx finished second behind his fellow BMW driver, despite constant efforts to overtake the Brazilian which would not have been possible without the ADVANs performance.

"On a track where overtaking is so difficult, you need grip straight away to get a good start and the tyres did their job perfectly," said Priaulx.
"They were consistent and even improved during the race so I'm happy with them."

Front-wheeled SEAT Leon driver Tiego Monteiro finished third in both of today's WTCC races and said: "You need to be confident in the car and the tyres to attack here in Pau because the track is so bumpy and narrow.
The curbs are hard on the tyres and you have to be careful not too exaggerate otherwise you could not finish the race but I finished on the podium twice this weekend so for me the tyres were handled everything perfectly!"

With another successful weekend completed, Yokohama Europe Marketing Manager Kazuyoshi Sekiguchi was happy to reflect on the day's racing.

"It was really good to see both front and rear wheeled cars winning today which testifies that the ADVAN tyre is a quality and consistent product," said Sekiguchi.
"The drivers generally have to push harder on a street circuit and therefore rely more on their tyres since the margin for error is so much smaller."