The Australian Pulsar Racing Association (APRA) has announced leading tyre brand Toyo Tires as control tyre supplier for the 2016 APRA race series.
The first of the growing one make racing series' 14 rounds will take place at Sydney Motorsport Park on 21 February. The full field of Nissan Pulsar race cars will be fitted with Toyo Tires Proxes R888R semi-slick tyres, the tyre maker's most advanced road-legal motorsport offering.
The specification of competing cars in the series is tightly controlled to maintain a level playing field for all teams. The control tyre announcement was made to competitors during a tech night at Toyo Tires' Minto, NSW headquarters.
Toyo Tires marketing manager José Angeles said the company was excited to be part of a series shaping the future of Australian motorsport from the grassroots up.
"This is where the next generation of motorsport drivers are getting their start," he said.
"The APRA series is inclusive and unearths talent that might otherwise be hidden by the prohibitive cost of being competitive in other motorsports.
"Toyo prides itself on delivering race-winning technology accessible to both professional and amateur racers. The Proxes R888R is a bolt-on solution that will give club racers durability and consistent performance all the way to the chequered flag."
APRA director Pete Harmston said the raw form of racing has drawn championship drivers from other motorsports.
"There is no way to gain a financial advantage in this series. It puts driving ability above all else. The series is attracting professional drivers who have driven in V8 Supercar development series and karting, plus Aussie Racing Car and time attack champions alongside the next generation of Australian racing drivers."
The series, which takes place across NSW, Victoria and Queensland, includes sprint races of six to 12 laps alongside one to two-hour endurance races - demands Mr Harmston said Toyo's Proxes R888Rs will meet.
"Toyo Tires has a global reputation for motorsport and APRA is thrilled to be a part of it. Our testing of the Proxes R888R shows it is the ideal choice for this series.
"It was faster, more stable and easier to manage. The grip is excellent and longer lasting in race conditions. Our racers will get a lot out of them," Mr Harmston said.
Globally Toyo Tires supports and supplies numerous off-road and road race series. The international Stadium Super Trucks series use the Toyo Open Country A/T II as its control tyre. Locally the Mirage Cup, Drift Australia and the Street Car Racing Association have benefitted from Toyo involvement and supply, with clubman series worldwide relying on Toyo Open Country and Proxes control tyres.
