Grouptyre’s two-month national summer promotion achieved its aim of boosting sales of Pirelli car, van and 4×4 tyres in the independent and garage sector, while one lucky tyre centre manager can hardly believe he’s going on an all expenses paid trip to the World Rally Championships.
The prize draw competition was open to all independent tyre retailers who purchased Pirelli tyres from their local Grouptyre member during July and August, and registered to enter via www.grouptyre.co.uk., and resulted in a 10.7% increase in Pirelli sales by comparison with the previous average sales of participating dealers.
Aaron Bothamley, manager of Fairway Tyre and Auto Services in Rickmansworth, won the top prize and heads off to the WRC Rally of Spain on October 2. In addition to flights to Barcelona, all inclusive hotel accommodation plus access to the Pirelli and Ford technical areas, Aaron and his brother-in-law Paul were looking forward to taking a helicopter flight along one of the stages to experience top class professional rally driving at its most exciting.
Aaron, who is supplied by the Grouptyre member Broadway Tyres, said: “I’m going to the World Rally Championships –I don’t think it’s quite sunk in yet, but I’m absolutely delighted. Although Paul and I are really interested in motorsport, neither of us has ever been to anything like this and we can’t wait to see what goes on behind the scenes.”
Runners up Derek Campbell, proprietor of Derek Campbell Exhausts & Tyre Centre in Stockton on Tees, and Alan Gadsby, who owns AG Services, in Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire, won places at Pirelli-sponsored track days, while five fitters will be keeping extra warm this winter after taking delivery of new Pirelli rally jackets.
Derek, who is a customer of NE Wholesale, travelled to Knockhill Racing Circuit near Dunfermline on September 16, where he and his son Dez, 28, put a sporty Seat saloon and a single-seater racing car through their paces and tried their hand at karting and skid control. They especially enjoyed the karting and Smart Pursuit, Knockhill’s new high adrenaline activity in which participants get behind the wheel of a roadster-coupe and compete on a mirror image track to set the fastest time.
“We had a brilliant time at Knockhill – in fact, Dez hasn’t stopped talking about it!” said Derek.
“The rain helped to make things a bit more exciting, especially the karting, but the atmosphere was relaxed and the team of instructors was excellent, making sure we enjoyed ourselves and got the most out of the experience. Thanks to Grouptyre and Pirelli for organising such a fantastic day, we were very impressed with the whole set up.”
Alan Gadsby from AG Services, who is a We Sell Tyres (Wholesale) customer, said: “Thanks to Grouptyre and Pirelli for this great initiative, which recognises we’re all working hard as part of a big team and is good for our industry,”
“My sons, who are going on the track day, are thrilled because this is the chance of a lifetime for them. They really enjoy motorsport and now they’ll get to find out exactly what it’s like when they try out cars on the high speed circuit and skid pan and learn new skills such as adverse handling,”
The Pirelli promotion was the first of a series of national incentives and exclusive promotions that Grouptyre plans to develop in conjunction with premium brand manufacturers with a view to increasing its share of sales in the independent and garage retail sector.
