Goodyear to Expand into ELMS Next Year

Goodyear has confirmed that it will expand its motorsport involvement into the European Le Mans Series next year, working with teams in the LMP2 and GTE classes.

The U.S. company will take over from its sister brand Dunlop as a provider for the top prototype category in 2020, going up against Michelin.

Goodyear will supply the same specification LMP2 tire that three teams – JOTA, Jackie Chan DC Racing and High Class Racing –  currently use in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

“Goodyear is an industry leader in developing ultra high-performance tyres for sports cars,” said the brand’s motorsport director Ben Crawley.

“Our WEC comeback applies our knowledge and technology in one of the most demanding championships in racing.

“To extend this development to ELMS means we get to work with a wider range of cars, teams and drivers as well as showcase the Goodyear brand at some of Europe’s most prestigious circuits.”

Goodyear is in the process of stepping up its international racing involvement, having recently ventured into WEC for the 2019-20 season and announced a deal to supply the British Touring Car Championship grid for next year, replacing Dunlop in both.

When it announced its return to top-level sports car racing in the form of its WEC program, the company also expressed an interest in ELMS – which shares the grid with WEC at the 24 Hours of Le Mans – but had yet to commit to a full program.

In addition to its now-confirmed ELMS LMP2 expansion, Goodyear will also take over Dunlop’s exclusive supply of the championship’s GTE class next year.

The field will run on the Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport racing tire.

“The GTE category fits perfectly with Goodyear’s recent launch of the Eagle F1 SuperSport road-legal tire,” said Crawley.

“The ultimate version of this range, the Eagle F1 SuperSport RS has been homologated for the Porsche 911 GT2 RS and GT3 RS, and sizes are also being developed to fit models from other premium sports car manufacturers.

“In ELMS, we will supply a tire range that offers the performance, parity, consistency and durability needed for a diverse range of cars.”

ELMS and WEC CEO Gerard Neveu added: “Goodyear is one of the iconic names in Motorsport. With fourteen 24 Hours of Le Mans victories, they bring vast experience as well as their prestige, investment and technology to the European Le Mans Series.

“We are proud that Goodyear has chosen WEC and ELMS to headline their return to international sportscar racing.”