Dunlop Set for Re-Entry into GT Ranks in 2015

Dunlop is set to re-enter the GT ranks next year with the supply of tires for endurance racing teams worldwide.

The tire manufacturer had pulled out of GT racing competition at the end of 2013, partially due to the relocation of its motorsports manufacturing plant from the U.K. to mainland Europe.

It however, has continued to supply tires to LMP2 teams in the FIA World Endurance Championship and European Le Mans Series, which has seen considerable success.

Plans are now in place to offer new specification tires for the “open tire” GT categories, such as the GTE-Pro class in the FIA WEC and the GT class in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.

A test program set to get underway at Monza next week.

“We are proud of our partner teams’ results in LMP2, and we believe we can build on the knowledge gained both in LMP2 and in recent GT successes in developing a new tire evolution for 2015,” said James Bailey, Communications Director.

“At this stage, there’s no confirmation of which teams we will supply in 2015. Our goal is to achieve another step forward in performance before presenting our test results to possible partners.”

Dunlop had a notable GT presence in GT racing on both sides of the Atlantic, which included an alliance with BMW in the ALMS and Mercedes-AMG at the Nurburgring 24 last year.

It’s understood, meanwhile, that an announcement is imminent on a single-spec tire for the GTE-Am class of the FIA WEC next year.

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