Kumho’s new F3 tyre gets the thumbs up from the teams

Kumho’s all new F3 tyre has received the thumbs up from the Euro Series teams, following the official pre-season tests in Valencia and Barcelona. This follows the first change in tyre specification since the Series’ foundation in 2003 and guarantees a level playing field for all 2011 runners, as data from previous years will be irrelevant to the new covers.

As Formula 3 Euro Series is the premier school for drivers aiming at F1, it has become increasingly important for its control tyre to teach them about wear rates, optimising grip levels etc – skills they will require in the future. With this in mind, the organisers requested Kumho design a tyre with a more significant performance peak, coupled to a reduction in grip after just a few laps.

Kumho’s solution was a tyre of more rigid construction and softer tread compound. Said the company’s Motorsport Tyre Technical Manager, Mark Hamnett, “The new covers are certainly very different to the previous ones and will require a completely new approach to car set-up – last year’s settings would be far too aggressive for the new compound.”

Prema Powerteam’s driver Roberto Merhi posted the quickest times at the tests and his ex-F1 engineer, John McGill, was quick to praise the new rubber: “Though tyres are an issue in most racing categories, they weren’t in Formula 3 Euro Series, as the old Kumho slicks lasted so well. That’s now changed and we will have to really understand the new tyres in order to optimise their use and performance levels.”

Also new this year, is that there will be three races during each meeting rather than two, and the season kicks off this weekend at the Paul Ricard circuit in Southern France.

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