Self-confessed ‘professional petrolhead’ and TV presenter champions Protoura Race

From rally driving to motoring journalist, Paul Woodford knows a thing or two about the importance of tyre performance when out on track.

Paul recently had the opportunity to put Protoura Race to the test in his own Spark R53 Mini, following Davanti’s involvement with the Mini Rally Challenge. Here’s what he had to say about their performance…

‘The demands made on the control tyre in a budget, single-make rally championship are uniquely tough.

Competitors expect satisfactory performance in all conditions, keen pricing and excellent durability. All while being E-marked for use on the public highway.

The Mini Rally Challenge has risen the ranks of UK rallying to become the most popular single-make series, regularly fielding entries of 30+ competitors, adding further pressure for the organisers when it comes to the choice of tyre.

Davanti is a relative newcomer to the world of UK motorsport, with a growing footprint in circuit racing. Such an unknown brand can often bring compromise. However, as an ambassador for the Mini Rally Challenge; presenter of the online TV coverage, I was privy to the diligence that had gone in by the series organisers to ensure the Protoura Race was a clear step-up from the previous asphalt tyre.

I’ve driven several rallies in Mini Rally Challenge cars, experiencing the previous control tyre in wet, dry and icy conditions, so was looking forward to trying the Protoura Race on my own R53 supercharged Mini, which I was driving as course car on a demonstration rally stage at Lincolnshire Motor Show.

The stage was a mix of fast straights, tight corners and grass chicanes. The brief was to entertain the spectators with plenty of sideways driving. I happily obliged, as did my Davanti tyres!

The tyres got up to temperature very quickly, inspiring confidence on the faster sections of the stage and under hard braking, allowing me to set the car up sideways with predictable control.

A six minute stage, in extreme heat and with no shortage of handbrake turns, high speed braking and dusty cuts is handily reflective of the rigours of a rally special stage.

Arguably this type of driving far exceeds the demands of a track day, another important proving ground for Davanti’s track-focused road tyre.

One thing I was conscious of with this type of tyre was soft tyre walls, and after pushing the car hard for two stages, with the tyres very hot, I was expecting to see some wear and discolouration on the tyre edges. I’m pleased to say the tyres still looked brand new, even if they didn’t smell it! On closer inspection, despite sliding the car around, the rear tyres weren’t showing any lateral deformity to the tread pattern, something I had noticed with previous brands.

A week later, I got a chance to experience the tyres in wet conditions on a 200 mile road journey to Llandovery in Wales, to present live coverage of the Tour of Epynt.

The tyres felt very assured during a heavy downpour on the motorway, and seemed equally at home on a recce of the rally stages, some of which was on damp, newly-surfaced asphalt.

Echoing the reviews I’ve read from competitors in the Mini Rally Challenge, I can now say from personal experience that the Championship organisers have met their brief with the new control tyre. In a highly competitive market, the Davanti Protoura Race is a serious contender.

Davanti has achieved in a road tyre, a level of performance I’ve previously only experienced from less compromising motorsport tyres. I’m looking forward to an opportunity to see what improvements I could make in fully competitive conditions, using this tyre.’

Take a look at how Paul put the tyres through their paces at the Lincolnshire Motor Show below.