Crain News Service report
TOKYO (Aug. 5, 2014) — Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. said it will support the team led by Takuma Aoki in the 19th Asia Cross Country Rally.
The tire maker said the event is the largest Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile-certified (FIA) cross country rally held in Asia.
Yokohama's support will include supplying Geolander tires for the team's car and Medi-Air air-cell cushions to reduce the burden on the lower body of the driver, Mr. Aoki, who is paralyzed from the waist down.
The race will start in Pattaya, Thailand, on Aug. 9 and run through Aug. 15, with the finish line in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The rally began in 1996 to promote international goodwill and friendship among countries in Asia, according to Yokohama Rubber, which has co-sponsored the race for 11 straight years, beginning in 2001. Cars running on the company's Geolander tires finished second and third place in 2011 and second place in 2012.
Mr. Aoki was injured in a crash during a motorcycle practice run, Yokohama said. He has participated in the Asia Cross Country Rally every year since 2007 and finished third in 2011, sixth in 2012 and 11th in 2013.
This report appeared on the website of Rubber & Plastics News, an Akron-based sister publication of Tire Business.