KETC wins award for Bowler Rally Raid programme

Kumho’s Birmingham-based European Technical Centre (KETC) has won a major internal award for its work in relation to the Bowler Nemesis Rally Raid programme.

Kumho stole a march on its competitors with the 275/65R18 KL72 and KL73 tyres it has specially developed for the fearsome 500bhp Land Rover-based Nemesis 4x4s – the covers are the only ones of their size and type available for use in the world’s major rally raid events.

The award recognised all aspects of the technology involved: the development of the distinctive pattern, separate constructions for sand and mud (ie the KL72 and KL73 respectively) and the innovative use of the ultra-tough synthetic fibre ‘aramid’ for optimum strength in the sidewalls.

It also took into account the very valuable marketing exposure gained by the programme – the considerable press and TV coverage for which has been truly global in nature and continues to flow. For example, following PlayStation 3’s sponsorship of the team on this week’s (October 26-31) UAE Desert Challenge, PlayStation 3, Bowler and Kumho are to work together on a number of projects, each of which will be themed around the latest instalment of the MotorStorm video games series produced by Sony Computer Entertainment.

Said KETC Managing Director Roger Jenkins, “The award we’ve won is in fact the highest prize attainable by one of Kumho’s overseas technical centres and we are very proud of our achievement. It is tangible recognition of KETC’s success in supporting the core business requirements of the company.”

For further information on Kumho and its products, visit kumhotyre.co.uk