The 24h race is the largest race in the world. On the last weekend in May (May 160-26), around 29 teams face the greatest challenge for people and materials in motorsport on the legendary Nordschleife. In the "Green Hell", Dunlop is equipping numerous teams in the battle for the prestigious long-distance crown. With a total of 13 trucks, including eleven four-tonners, Dunlop comes to the 24 hours. Almost 4.800 racing tires are transported to the unique long-distance race in the Eifel. In addition to 3.500 slicks, Dunlop also has 1.300 rain tires in its luggage. There are also two further trailers with fully equipped workplaces for the engineers and technicians.
In the 44th edition of the endurance classic, racing cars such as the Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3, the Audi R8 LMS, the BMW Z4 GT3, the brand new BMW M6 GT3 and the three individual sports prototypes from Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus will be racing on Dunlop. In addition to the professional teams on the Nordschleife, numerous ambitious privateers also rely on racing tires that are produced in Hanau in the battle for class victory. And the Dunlop tires that will be in use on the mega weekend are as varied as the vehicle types. A wide range of different tire sizes is available: The range extends from the smallest size 205/60 R17 for a Renault Clio to the large rear tire for a GT3 racing car of size 310/710 R18. While the small, profileless Clio tire weighs eight kilograms, a beefy GT3 slick weighs around 12 kilograms.
But it is not only the material expenditure for the motorsport marathon that is enormous. The biggest race of the year is also a very special challenge for the Dunlop team. The team includes more than 30 engineers, specialist fitters and service personnel who work around the clock in several shifts during the 24-hour race in the paddock at the Nürburgring. In order to provide the Dunlop teams with the highest level of technical service, three assembly lines are being set up in the "Dunlop City".
The Nürburgring-Nordschleife is the toughest and longest racetrack in the world. The tire is extremely stressed. The Nordschleife offers a total of 73 curves (33 on the left and 40 on the right). Here and there the pilots rob about the curbs. There are also passages with pronounced compression. If spring travel is at the stop, the tire must take over the damping work. Even the extreme full throttle passages do not give time to catch your breath. In one lap, a tire makes 40.000 revolutions on the Nordschleife - a unique value worldwide.
