Team JapSpeed goes tyre testing with Maxxis in Spain
Under: Maxxis News on
31 October 2011
Since 2009 Team Japspeed has worked closely with tyre
manufacturer Maxxis focusing on competitive drifting. Maxxis were
one of the first to produce a tyre specifically designed for this
sport, the MA-Z1, and since its launch Team Japspeed have always
ran this compound which has enabled the team to take many victories
within the British Drift Championship including the constructors in
2011.
With the season now finished, Team Japspeed were invited out to
Spain with Maxxis to further test the MA-Z1s drifting ability. This
was an absolute honour for the whole team to work so closely with
one of our biggest sponsors, and who in their right mind would pass
up the opportunity for a day's drifting in the middle of Spain!
With all three team cars loaded up and the trusty Japspeed tool van
ready, is was time for a 1000+ mile road trip starting from
Manchester and ending up at Cartagena!
If you've never heard of the Cartagena Circuit, it's a PROPERLY
fun and challenging 2.1-mile course for both driver and car (thanks
to Spain's 30+ degrees heat!). With undulating gradients and three
hairpin s-bends one after the other, Japspeed's Paul 'Smokey' Smith
was able to pull 5th gear at over 100mph sideways thanks to the
awesome Maxxis MA-Z1 tyres fitted - not many tyres could put up
with that level of abuse, let alone see him all the way round like
the MA-Z1s did!
Throughout the day, all three drivers Shane Lynch, Steve
Biagioni and Paul Smith were on hand performing drift demos for
those specially-invited guests of Maxxis including one lucky fan
who won the chance to go out in the V8 twin-turbo S15 with Shane.
Aside from filling the air with tyre smoke, the Maxxis engineers
were on standby to evaluate every set of tyres after each drifting
session as well as talking to the Japspeed drivers on just how well
the tyres perform. Maxxis are keen to keep evolving this dedicated
drift tyre, and with the help of Team Japspeed we cannot wait for
any future developments - this is a tyre manufacturer genuinely
listening to the needs of us drifters and responding!
After a hard day's drifting the Japspeed staff could take some
well-earned rest before the long drive back to Manchester. Despite
the heat and intensive drifting, all three Japspeed cars performed
faultlessly - a true testament to the hard work every single
Japspeed crew member puts in, and yet another reason why Japspeed
and Maxxis are the 2011 constructors champions! Once again we'd
like to thank Maxxis Tyres for this unique opportunity and
hospitality, and we cannot wait to start developing once again in
2012!
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