Automotive Performance Brands - Yokohama Tire in Accelerating Sustainable Performance Summit At Sonoma Raceway, Sept. 7

FULLERTON, Sep. 6, 2012: For the second year, Yokohama Tire Corporation will participate in Sonoma Raceway’s Accelerating Sustainable Performance Summit (ASP). The September 7 eco event focuses on how motorsports technology and innovation drive advancements in sustainable transportation. ASP, which brings together business, engineering, academic and research innovators and thought-leaders, will run 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the raceway in Sonoma, California.

Duane Sampson, Yokohama motorsports manager, will be on a panel discussing the “State of Sustainable Racing 2012.” Sampson will talk about Yokohama’s orange oil technology, which is used in the company’s ADVANŽ ENV-R2™ – the official spec tire of the 2012 IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama and GTC Class of the ALMS (American Le Mans Series). The race slicks combine orange oil, natural rubber and other renewable materials to improve the performance characteristics in the tire.

“This event is a great venue to discuss the many technologies in use by Yokohama,” said Sampson. “In many cases, technology is proven on the track and then transferred to the street, and this panel gives Yokohama the forum to discuss it. For example, the orange oil technology in the ENV-R2 is also used in our new passenger tire, the AVID AscendŽ.”

To showcase the spectrum of products, Yokohama will provide two vehicles for ASP attendees to experience the tires: the 150kW (201 hp and 220 N-m torque) electric-powered AC Propulsion eBox Scion xB fitted with the AVID Ascend and a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race car with the ENV-R2 race slicks. “The acceleration and regenerative braking are highly impressive on the electric car,” said Sampson, “but the power and grip of the Porsche 911 Cup car is staggering.”

“Sonoma Raceway is the ideal setting for the green summit,” said Fred Koplin, Yokohama director of marketing communications, who will also attend the event. “With its solar power, recycling, on-track green technology and other programs, Sonoma has made great strides to reduce its carbon footprint. It fits perfectly with our global environmental commitment.”