Bridgestone tires resist Sarno’s heat

During a particularly hot FIA Karting weekend at the Sarno circuit, the tyres were also put to the test. We asked the Bridgestone staff a few questions to shed light on the excellent performance of Japanese rubber in Italy.

What really were the temperatures of this exceptional event?
During parctice, the ambient temperature reached 38° C while the track temperature was between 52° and 55° C. During qualifying, we recorded a temperature of 35° in the air and 50° on the track. Temperatures were slightly lower during the races, but still quite high. It was a real challenge for the human beings and machines with 34° in the air and 49° on the track.

How the Bridgestone face this situation?
We are proud of the performance of our product. The Bridgestone YNB tire has perfectly fulfilled its mission to serve our customers in the best possible way in all conditions, including very hot temperatures. In the past, when regulations allowed competition between tire manufacturers, the best lap time was the main objective and Bridgestone was in a dominant position. Since the introduction of the single brand tire regulation, it does not matter if a tire is one or two tenth faster than another. Durability, consistency and wear are what matters, and the tire definitely provide this.

Did you give any specific advice to the drivers?
No, not really, our tires are designed to fulfil the criteria set by the CIK, to cope with all conditions throughout the season and that’s what they do! The Bridgestone YNB tires were used in March on the same Sarno track in much cooler conditions and pole position was achieved with a time of 56”286. This weekend, with an extremely hot track temperature of around 55°, Lorenzo Camplese was the fastest in qualifying with a time of 56”279, a clear proof of the quality and consistency of the tire and Bridgestone’s manufacturing process. Of course, in such extreme conditions, tire pressure management is very important, but in fact, it is always the key to success, regardless of the weather.

Info Kartcom / © Photo KSP