Bridgestone Dominates World Kart Championship
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (October 27, 2003) -- In Sarno, Italy, Bridgestone-shod driver Wade Cunningham won the CIK / FIA World Karting Championship where Bridgestone drivers dominated the podium and took the top nine finishes.

This year, the championship was reduced to a single Formula A event and was held October 25th & 26th. A total of 111 drivers from 22 different nations entered the event.

The 19-year old Cunningham started sixth on the grid and quickly moved into second place in the final. Pole sitter Manual Renaudie had the early lead but Cunningham inherited the first place position after Renaudie experienced mechanical problems. He never relinquished his advantage and crossed the finish line with a 2.05 second lead.

Cunningham, a New Zealander, is from the Mount Wellington Kart Club in New Zealand which also produced IRL driver Scott Dixon, who recently won the 2003 IndyCar Series Championship.

Nashville-based Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC, is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. BFNT develops, manufactures, and markets Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton and associate and private brand tires. The company is focused on wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off-road, agricultural, motorcycle and other tires to its customers in North America.