DMACK Tyres Event Summary

DMACK Praises Michelin For Competitive Spirit In Portugal

Michelin’s competitive spirit has helped DMACK Tyres continue to lead the FIA Production World Rally Championship (PWRC) after a podium finish in Portugal with Martin Semerad.

Despite a tough weekend amid harsh conditions at Rally Portugal, the third round of the FIA World Rally Championship, the DMACK Tyres equipped car of Semerad claimed third position in PWRC in what was the sternest test so far for the Chinese tyre manufacturer.

Rally Portugal has traditionally been tough on rubber with its hard-based, abrasive roads, littered with sharp rocks, delivering some of the highest rates of tyre wear in the entire championship.

It was these conditions on the mountainous Portuguese roads which saw DMACK’s nominated tyre for this event, the hard compound DMG G2, suffer from high wear on leg one of the event.

This led DMACK to request permission from the event Stewards for the three priority drivers on its tyres to use the medium compound G4 for the remainder of the rally.

In the interests of competition, this change was approved by Michelin – the only other authorised tyre supplier to the WRC – and all the PWRC drivers on the event.

Semerad, winner of the opening PWRC round in Sweden earlier this year, struggled with high tyre wear on Friday’s six stages – which comprised 132km.

But after transferring to the other compound at the start of leg two he was able to make it to the finish. He benefitted from other competitors’ misfortunes when many of the leaders experienced problems in the tough conditions.

Semerad was down in seventh at the start of leg two but a series of accidents and retirements among the PWRC runners saw the young Czech move up the standings to third by the end of the gruelling 385km event. The result sees him lead the PWRC series by 15 points.

Abu Dhabi drivers Majed Al Shamsi and Bader Al Jabri also finished eighth and ninth respectively in PWRC using DMACK tyres.

Dick Cormack, DMACK Tyres motorsport director, said: “It has been a difficult event but we must thank the Stewards, Michelin and the other PWRC drivers for approving the change of compound and enabling our crews to complete the event. On a positive note, the medium G4 has proved competitive on what have been some really abrasive stages and we still have a DMACK car at the top of the PWRC standings. The WRC provides the toughest off-road rally action in the world and that’s why DMACK is here.”

Martin Semerad said: “We’ve had two good results now but I’m not satisfied with this event. We weren’t really in a position to fight and I’d like to try and be a bit faster next time. The medium tyre worked much better and it felt good when we changed to it – we were able to push normally with it.”

-source: dmack tyres