Dunlop Bridge at Le Mans Set to Be Rebranded to Goodyear

Photo: Charly Lopez/DPPI

The Dunlop bridge at Circuit de la Sarthe, which has existed since the first running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1923, is set to be rebranded to Goodyear, as a direct consequence of the British tire brand’s acquisition by the Sumitomo Group.

As first revealed by French publication Ouest-France, the famous footbridge, which has been synonymously linked to the French endurance classic, will no longer be called Dunlop beginning in 2026.

This is because Goodyear sold the Dunlop brand to Sumitomo Rubber Industries earlier this year, which includes the brand’s assets in Europe, North America and Oceania, in a deal estimated to have been priced at $701 million.

While Dunlop had been a stalwart tire supplier at Le Mans up until the 2010s, its competition rubber was rebranded to Goodyear in 2020, which became the exclusive tire provider of LMP2 and was followed by LMGT3 in the category’s launch in 2024.

The ACO confirmed the series of “transformative developments aimed at elevating the fan experience” later on Thursday, stating that it will construct a brand-new Goodyear-branded bridge, built on the structure of the current Dunlop bridge.

There will also be an upgrade of the Goodyear Racing Club, located at the end of the first straight, along with the renovation of the Goodyear Grandstand, adjacent to the ACO museum, as well as the Indianapolis Curve.

Additionally, the ACO and Goodyear will donate a “heritage collection” of Dunlop bridge memorabilia to the new Le Mans Museum, which is due to open in May.

“Le Mans is more than a race,  it’s a global celebration of motorsport heritage and innovation,” said the ACO’s head of clients and events Stephane Andriolo.

“With these new developments, we are reaffirming our commitment to delivering an unforgettable experience for fans and participants alike.

“The partnership with Goodyear allows us to honor the past while embracing the future of endurance racing.”

Goodyear’s global racing vice president Xavier Fraipont added: “Le Mans is the highlight of the endurance racing calendar and a cornerstone of Goodyear’s racing legacy.

“As we celebrate 45 years of the Eagle brand and 60 years since our first Le Mans win, we’re proud to deepen our partnership with the ACO.

“The enhanced brand presence at the circuit reflects our future-focused strategy and our passion for innovation in racing.”

Sumitomo’s recent acquisition of Dunlop is also set to affect another iconic fixture in sports car racing, with the Falken Motorsports colors in NLS and Nürburgring 24 competition set to be rebranded to Dunlop.

This story was updated on Thurs. Dec. 18 at 11:30 a.m. ET with additional information and quotes from the ACO

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John