Yokohama increases its support of V8 Utes series

Yokohama NZ has been a longtime supporter of the RYCO 24.7 V8 Utes series. Now the company is going to a whole new level with the launch of the Yokohama Scholarship which will provide the season’s most improved driver with a set of Yokohama tyres for each round of the 2021/22 season.

The inaugural Yokohama Scholarship has been awarded to one of the most exciting new drivers in the category – a young aircraft mechanic named Shane Dias who was blown away on hearing of the award. “It’s awesome, it’s a huge help. I might not have been racing next season if it wasn’t for Yokohama’s support.” Immensely talented yet eager to learn, Shane approaches every race with the same precision he gives his day job. After his previous success with the BMW E30 series, Shane has quickly come up to speed with driving an 1800kg, 400hp V8 ute, finishing a close third in the championship in his debut season.

Yokohama isn’t forgetting about the rest of the competitors. It is also providing two tyres as a lucky draw prize for every round, which is an amazing show of support for the entire V8 utes category.

While other tyre makers use motor racing as a test bed for their regular tyres, Yokohama goes even further by producing race tyres that work on road cars. The Advan AO48 is not only the control tyre for the V8 Utes racing series, this DOT-rated tyre is also fitted as standard equipment to sports cars like the Lotus Elise and Exige.

A visual reminder of

Yokohama’s support will be branding on the tailgate of Shane’s ute, but the company’s ongoing support is already felt on a number of levels. Radial Imports NZ General Manager Sam Robinson not only offers his tyre expertise to the RYCO 24.7 V8 Utes category. Sam steps up to the BBQ plate and cooks at the infamous BBQs at every round. Building strong relationships is a big part of what Yokohama does – with its customers and with racers.

So as the RYCO 24.7 V8 Utes season begins in December

2021, keep an eye on the blue Holden ute of Shane Dias and watch his charge to the top of the championship ladder.