Bridgestone Adrenalin Potenza RE001 Track Day
11th June 2007
Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia
POTENZA is Bridgestone’s sports tyre range. More than 20 years ago, Porsche decided to fit POTENZA as original equipment, followed by Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin and other leading marques. This confirmed it as the tyre of choice for almost all super sports cars.
It is now the tyre chosen by leading drivers in many motor sports, including the current craze for drift competitions.And then our crowning achievement, of course, was the F1 POTENZA.
Today we introduce a completely new concept – a street version of the POTENZA.
We asked ourselves: what is truly essential for sporty driving? Is it a powerful engine? Suspension and high-grip tyres that can handle high-speed cornering? The courage of a driver who cares nothing for danger and is fearless at speed? Is a fast circuit lap time the same as a sporty drive?
Those moments when you suddenly think “I’m really enjoying this drive” – what causes them?
Our view is that simply driving fast is not the same as sporty driving.We see it as a certain kind of pleasure that you should be able to feel when driving any car at any speed.
The sensation you get of becoming one with your vehicle, when tyres and suspension faithfully transmit the feeling of the road directly to your hands on the wheel. The satisfaction you get from a car that responds to your every wish, moving just as you imagine.
This is the sensation, the sporty ride, that is the true pleasure of driving.
The most important thing is finding out what makes a motorist really want to drive for the sake of pleasure. It doesn’t matter what car they drive. With our new tyre and with that desire, they can now enjoy all the pleasure of sports driving.
That’s the philosophy behind the POTENZA RE001 Adrenalin.
Adrenalin
– A collaborative Tokyo-Rome, Japanese-European effort
We chose Rome as the venue to introduce this new product.
Why? Because this was the birthplace of the POTENZA RE001 Adrenalin.
We have established four R&D centres and nine proving grounds at various locations around the world in order to handle all driving conditions, and to allow us to respond to the widely varying needs of drivers and vehicle manufacturers. Our R&D centre and proving ground in Rome is the base for our European development work.
The Adrenalin is the result of collaboration between Japan and Europe.
This collaboration began with product concept and target performance decisions, and extended from the start of development right through to track testing and evaluation. Bridgestone’s head office, R&D centre and proving ground in Japan worked closely with EUPG (Bridgestone European Proving Ground), the state-of-the-art tyre test facilities at Rome, and with the test drivers.
Opened in 2004, EUPG is the newest of all Bridgestone’s test facilities, with dedicated courses design ed for evaluating the performance of both tyres and vehicles, including an oval high-speed course over 4km long. This variety of courses fitted with the latest advanced equipment allows us to individually test the behaviour of each vehicle and the performance of each tyre. The ground is close to TCE (Technical Centre Europe), our main tyre R&D facility in Europe. The close link between the two lets us most effectively optimize our tyre design and development. Today, many of the major European auto manufacturers choose this track to test their new models. European auto manufacturers have the strictest tyre requirements in the world, and European consumers, living in a mature car-owning society, have a deep knowledge and interest in auto and tyre issues. In one of the world’s most competitive markets, EUPG supports Bridgestone’s tyre development as possibly the world’s most advanced car and tyre development facilities.
Development driver – Stefano Modena
Another major reason why we chose EUPG as the site to develop the Adrenalin was test driver Stefano Modena.
As an F1 driver in the late 80s and early 90s, he appeared on the victors’ podium in Monaco and Canada. Today, he is the most creative and enthusiastically committed member of the Bridgestone tyre development team working on projects at our most advanced test track.
We can say that the Adrenalin was perfected and refined based on the thinking and input of a driver who truly understands everything about how tyres work, thanks to his extensive experience in the world’s most demanding motor sport.
This is a man with a deep knowledge of just how dramatically a tyre can change a car’s performance, and who knows exactly what is required for a tyre to provide a sporty drive.
Adrenalin – Bringing new pleasure to sports driving
Our focus with this product was to create a tyre that can be used by anyone, on any car at any speed, that feels great on the street and provides a truly sporty drive.
Based on these objectives, Modena first determined what performance would be needed in the tyre. Development team members from Japan met with him here i n Rome repeatedly over the course of more than a year for discussions and tests.
When they think of a sports tyre, most people think of powerful grip and speedy response. And indeed, most sports tyres use those as their selling points.
The tyre we developed, based on Modena’s concept, aims to ensure real driving pleasure by going far beyond simple issues of powerful grip and speedy response.
Stability in all situations, precise, accurate but not over-sensitive response, how to exactly convey the condition of tyres and road surface to the driver through the steering wheel – these are the performance factors we concentrated on for the Adrenalin.
During the development of the Adrenalin, Modena made this comment: “What do you think are the most stable vehicles in the world? Racing cars.”
A race is a competition to see who can go fastest, with both car and driver pushed to their limits. If his car is stable under the most extreme conditions, the driver has an edge over his rivals allowing him to coolly make decisions and carry out required actions. At the extreme, it can give him the ability to take one action more than other drivers in the same situation.
And then of course, the Adrenalin also has the famed POTENZA high grip.
Until now, only those with superb driving skills could appreciate and enjoy the performance made possible by this high grip. The RE001 Adrenalin ensures precise handling in response to the smallest of steering movements, and gives a car great stability. This means that many more people can now drive closer to the limits of stability, accurately feeling the next action required as they steer. In addition, it has remarkably little noise and is very smooth for a sports tyre.
You don’t need a sports car to use this sports tyre. Whatever your car – even if you have a sedan or hatchback - if you want a sporty drive, then this is the tyre that will maximise your driving pleasure.
April 2007. The Adrenalin arrives
Malaysia, at launch the POTENZA RE001 Adrenalin will be available as a 35 to 55 series in 33 sizes, and we will continue to steadily expand the range of sizes.
The tyre will be launched simultaneously in Asia, China, Oceania, Near & Middle Eas t, Russia and Africa in early 2007. These are the countries that are now on the road to becoming mature car-owning societies. Drivers there are becoming more interested in automobiles, and from now on we will see a heightened interest in driving matters. The POTENZA series will introduce drivers there to the true pleasures of driving and spur their desire to experience more. Bridgestone is planning driving events in various countries as a way of giving as many drivers as possible the opportunity to experience just how pleasurable driving can be with the right tyres. This is our major objective – to make driving more of a pleasure for everyone.
11th June 2007
Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia
POTENZA is Bridgestone’s sports tyre range. More than 20 years ago, Porsche decided to fit POTENZA as original equipment, followed by Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin and other leading marques. This confirmed it as the tyre of choice for almost all super sports cars.
It is now the tyre chosen by leading drivers in many motor sports, including the current craze for drift competitions.And then our crowning achievement, of course, was the F1 POTENZA.
Today we introduce a completely new concept – a street version of the POTENZA.
We asked ourselves: what is truly essential for sporty driving? Is it a powerful engine? Suspension and high-grip tyres that can handle high-speed cornering? The courage of a driver who cares nothing for danger and is fearless at speed? Is a fast circuit lap time the same as a sporty drive?
Those moments when you suddenly think “I’m really enjoying this drive” – what causes them?
Our view is that simply driving fast is not the same as sporty driving.We see it as a certain kind of pleasure that you should be able to feel when driving any car at any speed.
The sensation you get of becoming one with your vehicle, when tyres and suspension faithfully transmit the feeling of the road directly to your hands on the wheel. The satisfaction you get from a car that responds to your every wish, moving just as you imagine.
This is the sensation, the sporty ride, that is the true pleasure of driving.
The most important thing is finding out what makes a motorist really want to drive for the sake of pleasure. It doesn’t matter what car they drive. With our new tyre and with that desire, they can now enjoy all the pleasure of sports driving.
That’s the philosophy behind the POTENZA RE001 Adrenalin.
Adrenalin
– A collaborative Tokyo-Rome, Japanese-European effort
We chose Rome as the venue to introduce this new product.
Why? Because this was the birthplace of the POTENZA RE001 Adrenalin.
We have established four R&D centres and nine proving grounds at various locations around the world in order to handle all driving conditions, and to allow us to respond to the widely varying needs of drivers and vehicle manufacturers. Our R&D centre and proving ground in Rome is the base for our European development work.
The Adrenalin is the result of collaboration between Japan and Europe.
This collaboration began with product concept and target performance decisions, and extended from the start of development right through to track testing and evaluation. Bridgestone’s head office, R&D centre and proving ground in Japan worked closely with EUPG (Bridgestone European Proving Ground), the state-of-the-art tyre test facilities at Rome, and with the test drivers.
Opened in 2004, EUPG is the newest of all Bridgestone’s test facilities, with dedicated courses design ed for evaluating the performance of both tyres and vehicles, including an oval high-speed course over 4km long. This variety of courses fitted with the latest advanced equipment allows us to individually test the behaviour of each vehicle and the performance of each tyre. The ground is close to TCE (Technical Centre Europe), our main tyre R&D facility in Europe. The close link between the two lets us most effectively optimize our tyre design and development. Today, many of the major European auto manufacturers choose this track to test their new models. European auto manufacturers have the strictest tyre requirements in the world, and European consumers, living in a mature car-owning society, have a deep knowledge and interest in auto and tyre issues. In one of the world’s most competitive markets, EUPG supports Bridgestone’s tyre development as possibly the world’s most advanced car and tyre development facilities.
Development driver – Stefano Modena
Another major reason why we chose EUPG as the site to develop the Adrenalin was test driver Stefano Modena.
As an F1 driver in the late 80s and early 90s, he appeared on the victors’ podium in Monaco and Canada. Today, he is the most creative and enthusiastically committed member of the Bridgestone tyre development team working on projects at our most advanced test track.
We can say that the Adrenalin was perfected and refined based on the thinking and input of a driver who truly understands everything about how tyres work, thanks to his extensive experience in the world’s most demanding motor sport.
This is a man with a deep knowledge of just how dramatically a tyre can change a car’s performance, and who knows exactly what is required for a tyre to provide a sporty drive.
Adrenalin – Bringing new pleasure to sports driving
Our focus with this product was to create a tyre that can be used by anyone, on any car at any speed, that feels great on the street and provides a truly sporty drive.
Based on these objectives, Modena first determined what performance would be needed in the tyre. Development team members from Japan met with him here i n Rome repeatedly over the course of more than a year for discussions and tests.
When they think of a sports tyre, most people think of powerful grip and speedy response. And indeed, most sports tyres use those as their selling points.
The tyre we developed, based on Modena’s concept, aims to ensure real driving pleasure by going far beyond simple issues of powerful grip and speedy response.
Stability in all situations, precise, accurate but not over-sensitive response, how to exactly convey the condition of tyres and road surface to the driver through the steering wheel – these are the performance factors we concentrated on for the Adrenalin.
During the development of the Adrenalin, Modena made this comment: “What do you think are the most stable vehicles in the world? Racing cars.”
A race is a competition to see who can go fastest, with both car and driver pushed to their limits. If his car is stable under the most extreme conditions, the driver has an edge over his rivals allowing him to coolly make decisions and carry out required actions. At the extreme, it can give him the ability to take one action more than other drivers in the same situation.
And then of course, the Adrenalin also has the famed POTENZA high grip.
Until now, only those with superb driving skills could appreciate and enjoy the performance made possible by this high grip. The RE001 Adrenalin ensures precise handling in response to the smallest of steering movements, and gives a car great stability. This means that many more people can now drive closer to the limits of stability, accurately feeling the next action required as they steer. In addition, it has remarkably little noise and is very smooth for a sports tyre.
You don’t need a sports car to use this sports tyre. Whatever your car – even if you have a sedan or hatchback - if you want a sporty drive, then this is the tyre that will maximise your driving pleasure.
April 2007. The Adrenalin arrives
Malaysia, at launch the POTENZA RE001 Adrenalin will be available as a 35 to 55 series in 33 sizes, and we will continue to steadily expand the range of sizes.
The tyre will be launched simultaneously in Asia, China, Oceania, Near & Middle Eas t, Russia and Africa in early 2007. These are the countries that are now on the road to becoming mature car-owning societies. Drivers there are becoming more interested in automobiles, and from now on we will see a heightened interest in driving matters. The POTENZA series will introduce drivers there to the true pleasures of driving and spur their desire to experience more. Bridgestone is planning driving events in various countries as a way of giving as many drivers as possible the opportunity to experience just how pleasurable driving can be with the right tyres. This is our major objective – to make driving more of a pleasure for everyone.
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