Yokohama increases its support of the RYCO 24•7 V8 Utes.
Caption: Radial Imports NZ General Manager Sam Robinson congratulates Shane Dias
RYCO 24•7 is proud to have the support of Yokohama NZ as the official control tyre for the RYCO 24•7 V8 Utes series. Now Radial Imports NZ, the distributor of Yokohama tyres in New Zealand, is going to a whole new level with the launch of the Yokohama Scholarship. This exciting initiative will provide the season’s most improved driver with a set of tyres for each round of the 2021/22 season.
The inaugural Yokohama Scholarship has been awarded to one of the most exciting new drivers in the category – a young aircraft mechanic named Shane Dias who was blown away on hearing of the award. “It’s awesome, it’s a huge help. I might not have been racing next season if it wasn’t for Yokohama’s support.” Immensely-talented yet eager to learn, Shane approaches every race with the same precision he gives his day job. After his previous success with the BMW E30 series, Shane has quickly come up to speed with driving an 1800kg, 400hp V8 ute, finishing a close 3rd in the championship in his debut season.
Yokohama isn’t forgetting about the rest of the competitors. It is also providing two tyres as a lucky draw prize for every round, which is an amazing show of support for the RYCO 24•7 V8 Utes category.
While other tyre makers use motor racing as a test bed for their regular tyres, Yokohama goes even further by producing race tyres that work on road cars. The Advan AO48 is not only the control tyre for the V8 Utes racing series, this DOT-rated tyre is also fitted as standard equipment to sports cars like the Lotus Elise and Exige.
A visual reminder of Yokohama’s support will be branding on the tailgate of Shane’s ute, but the company’s ongoing support is already felt on a number of levels. Radial Imports NZ General Manager Sam Robinson not only offers his tyre expertise to the RYCO 24•7 V8 Utes category. Sam steps up to the BBQ plate and cooks at the infamous BBQs at every round. Building strong relationships is a big part of what Yokohama does – with the RYCO 24•7 team and with the V8 ute drivers.
So as the RYCO 24•7 V8 Utes season begins in December 2021, keep an eye on the blue Holden ute of Shane Dias and watch his charge to the top of the championship ladder.