Mat Coch writes:

After fourteen seasons in Formula One this weekend signals the final event for Bridgestone at the pinnacle of world motor sport. Entering Formula One in 1997 the company won its first championship with McLaren the following year before ultimately becoming the sole supplier to the sport after Goodyear, then Michelin, withdrew.

Bridgestone announced its decision not to enter into a new supply agreement with Formula One in November last year, believing the marketing and technical targets that had driven the Japanese firm's participation in the sport had been achieved.

When the company entered the sport brand awareness across Europe's five largest countries was just 13%. By 2003 that had risen to 34% as Formula One activities became the backbone of the company's marketing strategy.

Speaking exclusively with Pitpass, Hirohide Hamashima, Director of Motorsport Tyre Development, said the company's participation at the highest level had been hugely rewarding, with much of the development filtering down to road going products.

Technologies such as Nanotech, developed in the heat of competition, has seen advancement in tyre endurance, as well as improved low resistance tyres. "When we used the Nanotech we could make a good performance over wear rate, good performance over good grip tyres," explained Hamashima. "That technology is applied to road cars now.

"Usually a low rolling resistance tyre does not have good grip but we apply Nanotech to road cars so then we could then get good, low rolling resistance, and good wet performance."

Although Bridgestone will no longer be in Formula One from 2011 the company will remain actively involved in other categories of racing, the lessons learned in Formula One directly transferable. "We made so many simulation technologies based on Formula One," Hamashima continued. "Those technologies apply to [other] categories for Bridgestone."

Italian company Pirelli will become the sole tyre supplier to Formula One from next season, and Hamashima has offered to leave his door open should the manufacturer have any questions. "If Pirelli ask us we will answer," he said. "Currently nobody ask us!"

Asked if that was the end of the road for Bridgestone, Hamashima refused to rule out a return in future, suggesting one should "never say never."