Akebono Announces 2015 Motorsports Activities

Tokyo, Japan - (March 11, 2015) - Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd. announced today the company's planned motorsports activities for 2015.

Formula 1

Participating in the premier venue for motorsports, Akebono has supplied brake systems to the McLaren Racing team as an official supplier since 2007. In 2014, Akebono became a Technology Partner of McLaren and continues to develop cutting-edge brake technologies.

Team name: McLaren-Honda
Machine name: MP4-30
Parts: Brake Caliper, Master Cylinder, Brake by Wire Hydraulic Power Unit

FIA* World Endurance Championship (WEC)

Akebono supplies brake calipers to Toyota Racing's TS040 HYBRID, which won both the Manufacturer and Driver titles in the 2014 FIA authorized World Endurance Championship (WEC).

Team name: Toyota Racing
Machine name: TS040 HYBRID
Parts: Brake Caliper

*FIA: Federation Internationale de l'Automobile​

Nurburgring 24-Hour Endurance Race

The Nurburgring 24-Hour Endurance Race is generally considered the world's most demanding endurance race for touring cars. Akebono has supplied brakes for Team GAZOO Racing LEXUS LFA since 2010.

Team name: Team GAZOO Racing
Machine name: LEXUS LFA Code X
Parts: Brake Caliper, Brake Pad

MFJ* All Japan Road Race Championship - Class JSB1000​

Akebono has supplied brake systems to teams in JSB 1000, the top category in the MFJ All Japan Road Race Championship series. For 2015, Akebono supplies brake systems to two machines on the HARC Pro team.

Team name: MuSASHi RT HARC Pro
Machine name: CBR1000RR
Parts: Brake Caliper, Brake Pad, Master Cylinder

*MFJ: Motorcycle Federation of Japan

Leveraging the company's sophisticated brake technologies and development capability, since 2002 Akebono has partnered in numerous motorsports activities, with the aim of further augmenting expertise in the fields of high-performance brake materials, advanced structural designs and surface finishing technologies. Motorsports activities also provide an invaluable setting for training and skills advancement of Akebono engineers and technical staff.

*All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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About Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.

Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd. (TSE:7238), founded in 1929, is a world leader in advanced brake and friction material development and production. The Akebono Group operates R&D centers and manufacturing facilities worldwide, such as in Japan, the United States, Europe and Asia. Akebono has been supplying and jointly developing brake systems with the McLaren Formula 1 team since 2007.

For more information, visit www.akebono-brake.com/english/index.html.