Two new DMACK tarmac tyres launched for Germany
- New hard option tyres launched for WRC and WRC 2
- Jon Armstrong takes up first WRC 2 prize drive
- Round five of DMACK-backed FIA Junior WRC
DMACK will launch two new hard compound tyres at next week’s ADAC Rallye Deutschland after playing its asphalt joker for the season. New versions of the DMT-RC22 will be available for both WRC and WRC 2 competitors as DMACK continues to invest in technical development and targets increased Tarmac performance.
Leading WRC runners Elfyn Evans and Dan Barritt come to Germany fresh from their second runner-up finish of the season at Rally Finland last month. Evans is a fan of the tricky Tarmac event, with a couple of top-five finishes in the past, and is searching for another strong result in his M-Sport Ford Fiesta WRC.
He will use the new DMACK DMT-RC22 H6+BB hard compound tyre as the main option next week, but will also have the soft option S6+ available for cold or damp conditions. To boost safety in extreme wet conditions, the heavily treaded DMT-WET will also be an option – a maximum of 36 tyres are allowed over the weekend.
WRC 2 competitors, like Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy prize-winners Jon Armstrong and Noel O’Sullivan, will also benefit from a new hard tyre. The H6+B will be their primary option in Germany, alongside the soft S6+ and wet pattern tyre – they have a maximum usage of 34 tyres.
Armstrong, from Northern Ireland, will take to the wheel of his Ford Fiesta R5, prepared and run by M-Sport, in Germany and Spain – his two prize drive events from last season.
Rally Deutschland is renowned for three distinct surfaces and changeable weather. Crews face narrow and dirty vineyard lanes, wide country roads and the abrasive surfaces of the Baumholder military area – lined with the famous Hinkelstein rally-ending concrete blocks.
The weather can turn roads from dry to soaking wet in seconds and corner-cutting drags mud onto the roads. Tyre choice can be difficult and sometimes a compromise based on the surfaces and weather forecast.
The rally takes up a new base in Bostalsee, around 60km from previous host town Trier, and starts with a super-special stage in Saarbrucken on Thursday night. The longest stage, 41.97km Panzerplatte with its numerous junctions, is run twice on Saturday.
Dick Cormack, DMACK managing director, said: “We’ve worked hard since Corsica to develop new hard option tyres and are confident that the compounds introduced next week are a significant step forward. Germany can be a tricky event with tyre decisions critical, however, I believe we are in a strong position for all conditions next week.”
Elfyn Evans, DMACK WRC driver, said: “I’m looking forward to Rallye Deutschland and, after the pre-event test, am confident that we’ve made good progress since Corsica. I enjoy the challenge of this rally and quite like the difficult stages, so we will be pushing as hard as we can next week.”
Tyre Information: List 1 (WRC 2)
Tyre: DMACK 225/40R18 DMT-RC22 Compounds: S6+ soft (22), H6+B hard (30) and W5+ wet (8)
Maximum allocation: 34
Tyre Information: List 2 (WRC)
Tyre: DMACK 225/40R18 DMT-RC22
Compounds: S6+ soft (24), H6+BB hard (32) and W5+ wet (8)
Maximum allocation: 36
Tyre Information: Junior WRC
Tyre: DMACK 195/50R16 DMT-RC2
Compounds: S5 soft (16) and H5 hard (14)
Maximum allocation: 22
Event Information
Based: Bostalsee, Germany
Start: Saarbrucken, 18.58 on Thursday 17 August
Finish: Bostalsee, 13.00 on Sunday 20 August
Stages: 21 stages, 309.17km
Longest stage: SS10+15 Panzerplattte 41.97km
