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COLORADO SPRINGS, CO (July 1, 2013) – Giti Tire was victorious in its Pike’s Peak debut when Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima piloted his electric 2013 E-Runner Pike’s Peak - USA. Special to victory, handily winning the electric vehicle division.
Setting a new electric record yesterday at 9:46.530 despite under wet conditions, rivaling last year’s winner record of 9:51.278 on dry conditions in a Suzuki SX4 when he became the first driver to crack the Peak’s elusive ten-minute barrier. The eight-time Unlimited Division champion switched to the electric auto division last year at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, but his first attempt failed when he had to shut down because of an onboard fire. |
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 Martin Dowdle (Left) from Giti Tire European Technical Centre (ETC) hand cut tread grooves minutes before the race. |
Rain started to dampen the road surface
right before the Electric Division’s run. Some areas were heavily raining so the race start was delayed. Rain clouds moved quickly showering the top section, and then by the time the rain clouds hit the starting line, the rain had already held up at the top section. What concerned the team most was determining how wet the roads were, as it affects the decision to go with rain or cut slick tires? Hope to break his own record unfortunately ended with this kind of weather and slippery road, slight mistake will lead to accident. But not so today! Tire engineers with the Singapore-based company together with Tajima made the right call just minutes before Tajima’s record run when they hand cut tread grooves into the 20-inch slicks that had been specially designed for Tajima’s vehicle. Their quick action was in response to the road becoming wet from a 30-minute rainfall that let up just as Tajima was getting his electric-powered vehicle in position at the start line. The tires performed at an exceptional level, according to company officials. Driver ‘Monster’ Tajima comments: “I was looking forward to a fine day since it was a beautiful morning. However shortly after Sebastien Loeb’s outstanding record time, it began to rain and my hopes to challenge my own new record had unfortunately ended. I then decided to switch my focus on achieving first place in the Electric Division. The road was slippery and in rough condition causing many accidents. Despite the road condition, since the vehicle settings discussed with the engineers were great, I was ultimately able to break my own 2011 course record. Breaking my petrol car record with an Electric Vehicle is a great accomplishment. I would like to further develop the EV technology in pursuit for the perfect Electric Vehicle. I thank you all for your support." |
Tajima, in conjunction with the Monster Sport Team and Team APEV, selected Giti Tire as the new tire supplier for their 2013 Monster Sport E-Runner Pikes Peak Special - a 1,000 horsepower electric vehicle utilizing ultra-advanced Japanese technology. The E-Runner uses two GKN EVO eDrive Systems motors with a SIM-Drive controller and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) MLiX lithium-ion battery. Giti Tire worked closely with the team to engineer a custom tire specifically designed for this application. Giti Tire, the world’s ninth largest tire company, utilizes motorsports as a platform for fast track technology developments in material science, process and construction designs. These technologies ultimately find their way into the DNA of the company’s everyday tires for consumers. |
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For further details, please email us at: giticompeteteam@giti.com |
With the preservation of the environment and a goal of a sustainable society at heart. Team APEV with Monster Sport develop a special EV (Electric Vehicle) equiped with Giti special built slick tire to race in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in the USA.The project has caught the attention from Japan, USA, to Europe as Nobuhiro Tajima, the defending Champion of 6 consecutive wins has switched to EV (Electric Vehicle) and many broadcasting media such as Television and Newspapers have put spotlights to the project. 
