Giti Tire to Sponsor NHRA Racer Eric Latino

Nov. 3, 2015

GITI Tire (USA) Ltd. will sponsor Eric Latino in the National Hot Rod Association’s (NHRA) upcoming season to help introduce the Giti name to American auto enthusiasts.

The company is currently building its first manufacturing facility outside of Asia in Chester County, South Carolina. The plant will produce passenger and light truck tires for the replacement and original equipment markets and is expected to begin production in 2017.

“We have been providing tires to American families for years and people don’t know about it.,” said Armand Allaire, executive vice president of sales and marketing for GITI Tire (USA) Ltd. “We have many loyal dealers and retailers that sell GT Radial and other company brands, but the company itself is not yet well known with the general public. This sponsorship of Eric and our recently announced sponsorship of the Rose Parade are first steps in building awareness for Giti as a company.”

With 70,000 members and more than 40,000 licensed competitors, the NHRA is a thriving leader in the world of motorsports. Attendance at NHRA events averages 100,000 persons per weekend.

A native of Toronto, Latino has been a successful competitor in Canadian motorsports for many years, including winning the Championship Points Award in 2012 in the Pro Modified Racing Association.  He won the biggest Pro Mod race in North America at Englishtown, New Jersey.

This will be his second year of competition in the NHRA, having qualified in seven NHRA races this year. He reached the finals at this year’s Charlotte event and will be competing this coming weekend in Las Vegas.

 Latino drives a 1969 Camaro powered by a BAE hemi engine with a Kobelco supercharger and Leahy fuel system, both tweaked by Al Billes. A Cynergy Composites body sits atop of the G-Force Race Cars product. The car has recorded sub six-second runs down the quarter mile at speeds over 240 mph.

The Giti logo will be centered on the hood of Latino’s car. In addition, his team’s tractor trailer rig is running on GT Radial heavy duty truck tires. The Giti logo will also be featured on the back of the trailer.

“I’m excited about playing a role in promoting Giti to American drivers,” Latino said. “They are a global company that has made a real commitment to America by building the plant in South Carolina. NHRA drag racing is a great way to promote the Giti name in the heartland of America.”