WTCC race two winner Rickard Rydell
WET OR DRY, YOKOHAMA ADVANS DELIVER REGARDLESS


Media information: 29 July 2007


Despite the most challenging of conditions, with the track changing from wet to dry in every race, the Yokohama ADVAN tyre demonstrated its versatility and consistency at Anderstorp with Chevrolet Lacetti drivers Rob Huff and Rickard Rydell each claiming a FIA World Touring Car Championship race win.

While Huff led race one from start to finish after opting to start on wets in drying conditions, Rydell adopted the opposite tactic in race two, starting his run to victory on slicks. Second and third place were also won by Chevrolet drivers - Nicola Larini and Alain Menu - with the pair opting for the wet ADVANs.

Rydell only passed the two drivers on the last lap, finally being on the right tyre for the drying track conditions, showing what little difference there was in choosing between wet and dry tyre for this weekend's changeable weather.

Both Huff and Rydell were impressed by the performance of the Yokohama ADVAN tyre even in unfamiliar conditions. "We know that there's a lot of grip from the wet tyres when it's raining, but although it was tough when the track was drying the tyres stood up to it," said Huff.

"I wondered if I'd made the right decision late in the race, but I was impressed with how well the tyres lasted in the wrong conditions!"

Rydell, who had to hold back in the early stages of race two while on slicks in the wet, passed Chevrolet team-mates Nicola Larini and Alain Menu on the last lap once conditions were in his favour.

"I have to say it was not as hard as I expected in the first laps on slicks - they were good even in the wet," said Rydell. "It was slippery, but I had good grip even then which meant that I didn't lose too much early on and had the pace in the last laps to win."



Today's IFM winner Norbert Siedler on slicks The second International Formula Master race of the weekend was also run in changeable conditions, with Norbert Siedler gambling on starting the race on slick tyres in wet conditions and charging from the back of the field to take his second win of the year.

Oliver Campos Hull (Iris Project) and Johnny Cecotto Jr (Ombra Racing) opted for the same strategy and completed the top three finishers.

"Obviously I had to be careful in the early laps, but the grip level was still quite good even in the wet," said Siedler. "As the race went on I just got faster and faster and even in the final laps the tyres were performing very well and I was able to set fastest lap."

"When you have the conditions changing during the race it is a very big test for the product," said Yokohama Europe Motorsport Manager Matthijs Mathlener. "In all three races today the tyres proved that they can perform well even in the wrong conditions and that is very satisfying from a development point of view. Wet tyres will usually struggle on a track that is dry, but the Yokohama ADVAN lasted very well."