Dunlop is back in top-class sport in the 2016 motorsport season. After the successful relocation of tire production for automobile sports to Hanau, Dunlop accompanies the Aston Martin Racing works in endurance racing and equips numerous top teams on the legendary Nürburgring-Nordschleife. Dunlop supplies racing tires developed by an international team and produced in Hanau for many different vehicle concepts - including racing cars such as Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3, Audi R8 LMS, BMW Z4 GT3, Ford GT, Ferrari 458, Lexus RC F GT3 or the brand new BMW M6 GT3. In addition, the Dunlop-tired sports prototypes SCG003C and P4 / 5 Competizione by the American James Glickenhaus caused a sensation along the Nordschleife. Dunlop will also return to the large LMP2016 category of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 1. The Rebellion Racing and ByKolles Racing teams switch to Dunlop. This is the first time since 2012 that several tire manufacturers are fighting for victory in the premier sports car class. In the past few years, Dunlop had concentrated entirely on the LMP2 category in the WEC - and was Le Mans' tire partner of the class winner five times in a row.
"The relocation of the production site of the Dunlop racing tires for the automotive division to Hanau is now complete in all areas. From now on, we can optimally prepare ourselves for the competition in top international and national sport, "says Alexander Kühn, Manager Dunlop Motorsport. "In addition to the 24h races at the Nürburgring and at Le Mans, the German round of the FIA World Endurance Championship on the Grand Prix circuit of the Nürburgring is sure to be one of our highlights of the season in July."
Dunlop is a technical partner of Aston Martin Racing
Dunlop accompanies Aston Martin Racing in long-distance racing as a technical partner. So the Vantage GTE of the British factory team in the FIA long-distance
Phoenix-Audi R8 LMS on Dunlop
With four victories in the 24-hour race in the Eifel, Phoenix Racing is one of the top teams on the Nordschleife. Dunlop equips the Phoenix-Audi R8 LMS in the Scherer TÜV design in the endurance championship and in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring. "In the past, we worked successfully with Phoenix in the DTM and also on the Nordschleife and celebrated victories," says Alexander Kühn. The Audi R8 LMS from Car Collection and the Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS GT3 from the team from Walluf in Hesse are also on Dunlop.
Walkenhorst-BMW M6 GT3 as Dunlop Art Car
The team Walkenhorst powered by Dunlop brings two brand new BMW M6 GT3 into the Eifel. One of the M6 will cause quite a stir: the Dunlop Art Car. The spectacular design in the Dunlop colors black and yellow has been designed by Jean Pierre Krämer, known from the TV series "The PS Pros". With more than 37.000 Likes fans have chosen the spectacular "Jawbreaker" design on Facebook. Furthermore, the team around Henry Walkenhorst uses a BMW Z4 GT3 and two BMW M235i Racing on the Nordschleife. Dunlop is Technical Partner of BMW Motorsport and also 2016 exclusive tire partner of the BMW M235i Racing Cup. With this, the VLN class with the highest number of participants will be closed on Dunlop.
Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus uses three spectacular sports cars
Dunlop also supplies the racing tires for the spectacular racing cars of the Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus, which visually and technically resemble a Le Mans prototype. The American James Glickenhaus uses two individual sports cars SCG003C and a P4 / 5 Competizione. Dunlop also works with Emil Frey Racing. The team from Switzerland is development team for the new Lexus RC F GT3. The only Ford GT in the Green Hell receives race tires from Hanau. The flat flounder is used by Jürgen and Uwe Alzen. This year, the two Nordschleife veterans put their projects together and compete together as Alzen Racing. But even the Dunlop-frosted Ferrari 458 GT3 from Racing One has a large fan community on the ring. Traditionally, Dunlop has been a fixture in numerous private teams competing for the class win.
Dunlop also active in recreational sports
Dunlop is also involved in 2016 in a wide range of racing series. The premium tire manufacturer is also 2016 exclusive tire partner of the GTE class in the European Le Mans Series (ELMS). In addition, Dunlop will continue to equip a number of top teams in the LMP2 class. Also the participants of "DMV GT and Touring Car Cup" (DMV GTC), DMSB Touring Car Cup (DTC Procar), Dunlop FHR Cup and the European Renault Clio Cups drive with the black and yellow Dunlop lettering on the tire sidewall.
All photos: SB-Medien, Stefan Baldauf