3.6.2019 Hanau. The motor sports purists will yearn for often, after the time when series like formula 1 are still untamed, they were less clinically clean and unpredictable. However, over the years, a narrower rule has pressed the Motorsport corset and decreasing compliance.
Nevertheless, there is in the race calendar are still some events that take place more on the Limit than in the middle of the road – and this year, three of the most exciting of these races will be held on three consecutive weekends. Thanks to the two 24-hour Marathons at Le Mans and at the Nürburgring, as well as the challenge of the Isle of Man TT June is the month to take care of the real racing for true Motorsport. And – not surprisingly – Dunlop is a brand that has written for more than 130 years to win the Flag, close to the beating heart of this three race.
Within just three weeks, Dunlop will supply is expected to reach 5,000 tires for these three races, and service personnel take care of. Which means that the riders and bikers who have opt for Dunlop, have themselves made this choice, and not by the rules and regulations were compelled. And this competitive spirit brings to Dunlop to develop a tire that can continue to be harder and go faster to the Limit than last year.
Content
- Isle of Man TT
- 24 hours of Le Mans
- 24h-race Nürburgring
- Teamwork ensures success
Isle of Man TT
The Isle of Man TT has changed a lot since its beginnings more than a century ago hardly. Nowhere else bikers, Bikes and tyres to be subjected to such a tough exam as it is here.
The island, nestled in the Irish sea, is proud and independent, which means that you can decide things of great importance in itself – as, for example, the speed limits, or better said their absences on public country roads. This means that the participants are during the 59-mile round hunt through small sleepy villages, along rivers and through the Moorland to the Snaefell Mountain. The TT offers any kind of curves, but, on the Whole, the track is scary fast and the average speed of the lap record, set last year by Dunlop riders Peter Hickman, is beyond of 216 km/h. The driver to drive over large parts of the round in the fourth, fifth and sixth gear full throttle, with your point of view lanterns in the fast curves, through trees, hedges and street on the edge is restricted.
The choice of tyres at the TT is extremely important. Incredibly high average speeds and multiple jumps to be completed with more than 240 km/h, mean extreme stress for both the rubber compound and the tyre construction. Dunlop is the most successful Mark in the TT’s history and has won, among other things, for the past 13 victories. However, the free choice of tyres will ensure that every year new technologies come to use. This year has focused Dunlop on a rubber compound reaches operating temperature more quickly and the drivers are allowed, even on a frosty Morning with more self-confidence from the start line to the Bay Hill down to rush.
The race, which preceded by several training days, begins and ends with events for up to 1,000 CC Superbikes with more than 200 HP in the fast sections of the track is 320 km/h. Most of the drivers in the two other main classes at the Start of the 600 CC Supersport, and the 1000 CC Superstock.
With two exceptions, Dunlop what since the Premiere in 1907, in the case of each DD at the Start. In just the past 15 years, the driver that went with Dunlop at the Start have celebrated more than 60 victories and 150 podium finishes in various categories, including Superbike, Supersport, Superstock and TT Zero race for electric Bikes.
The high speeds on the TT course have helped Dunlop to develop the JLB technology. The “Jointless Belt Construction,” reduces the centrifugal force caused Stretching of the tire at high speeds from 15 to three millimeters. JLB leads to more comfortable Handling with an improved straight-line stability and a reduced pendulum effect – a great advantage for the Dunlop-road bikers.
24 hours of Le Mans
Dunlop has been in Le Mans a unique history. Since the first Le Mans win for the brand in 1924, cars have Dunlop Tires in the 34 overall wins at La Sarthe is celebrated more than any other tire manufacturer.
From the Bentley Victories in the 1920s, through the Jaguar D Types of the 1950s up to the epic battles between Porsche and Ferrari in the 1960s, Dunlop was and is a part of what makes Le Mans. And in the 1980s the fame brought rich years of the Porsche 956 and 962 and the Jaguar XJR more total wins for Dunlop.
In the recent past has concentrated Dunlop on the extremely hard-fought LMP2 class, because the balance of the vehicles, making this category a real scale with respect to the tire Performance. 2018 Dunlop won in this class for the eighth Time in a row, but self-satisfaction is not appropriate, explains Dunlop Motorsport’s Director, Ben Crawley: “We love the Competition. He brings our Team to develop new tyres and this year we have again an improved Version for Le Mans in the Luggage. With this tire, we won the FIA WEC race at Sebring and Jean-Eric Vergne took to a record-setting Pole in Spa. He was 1.8 seconds faster than 2018, and has emphasized, that development leads to improved performance.“
With 20 vehicles for the race on 15./16. June, the LMP2-class provides the largest proportion of the 62 participants. And half of these vehicles has opt for Dunlop. Three different Slicks and two wet tyres, which should meet the requirements of all the Dunlop Teams are allowed for the race. And the same tire specifications are also used in all rounds of the FIA world endurance championship and European Le Mans Series to use. So you need to come, therefore, with tempera-turn of 10° C (as in this year in Spa) to about 40° C and clear.
Crawley explains the Teamwork that these goals will be achieved: “After the development of the new Designs in the winter break, we are testing together with the team, before we commit to the mixtures and designs for the new season. The Dunlop engineers and the Teams work closely together to perfect the setup, and the best possible performance for any car and any driver combination of the Tires out. Both the suspension and the tire pressure have a direct influence on the performance in terms of speed and tyre durability. The lap times at the 24 hours of Le Mans will be improved from year to year, but the speed is only one of the requirements that must be fulfilled by the tires. Dunlop designs tires to withstand several Stints. And the communication and cooperation between the drivers, engineers and our technical Team are the key to victory. At the same time it is also a matter of human performance and Teamwork in product development.“
24h-race Nürburgring
Too dangerous and too fast for formula 1. The year was 1976, the opinion of the driver on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. But 40 years later, the legendary race track is still the scene of arguably the toughest 24-hour race in the world.
Long, tight, fast and challenging: The 25-mile course is the last truly untamed race track in the world, to the still significant automobile race hero may be.
“The track is very old school – a huge challenge,” says Crawley. “The race has developed in the recent past, in a battle between the major manufacturers. Top Teams, including the Phoenix-Audi have chosen in your pursuit of success for Dunlop. However, we will provide the Teams with tyres in various other classes to make the competition a versatile event. Including the TCR touring car.“
There are few other events that so many tire manufacturers in the field, which means that Dunlop competes against virtually any competitor from the industry are represented.
For drivers, the Nordschleife means continued pressure. Lines with different levels of Grip, and the traffic-changing Ideal on the track, especially with the Speed of the various classes mean that Driving in the partially banked curves, the alternating Upward and downward sections and on different track surfaces represents an outstanding challenge. The huge field is divided into various classes, with the victory of the favorites to go in the GT3 at the Start. Regular GT – and touring cars are also in the process, which for most Teams is usually in the VLN long-distance Championships, which will be held throughout the season on the Nordschleife.
Historically, this race so what is a good place for Dunlop: 18 overall victories speak a clear language. Dunlop won the first four editions of the race, with riders such as Hans-Joachim Stuck (1970), Helmut Kelleners (1972) and Niki Lauda (1973). And the last victory of the Dunlop 2017 celebrated as Connor De Phillippi, Kelvin van der Linde, Markus Winkelhock and Christopher Mies, the guide grabbed just two laps before the end of the race and as the winner came.
So, apart from the 24-hour race, Dunlop is able to loop a proud North-story: The unofficial lap record (on the Nordschleife without the GP-course) is still being held by Stefan Bellof, who rushed in 1983, his Dunlop-shod Porsche 956-6:11.13 minutes to the route. Motorsport experts believe that this round is still one of the greatest in the racing history.
Teamwork ensures success
The racing tires from Dunlop are created by an international Team. With Design experts in Birmingham (UK), Colmar-Berg (Luxembourg), Montlucon (France) and Hanau (Germany), is the cross-border use for success on the race track is huge. The tires for each of the three races are transported in the distinctive Truck Convoy from Dunlop on the Stick and the paddock of the three tracks will.turn in June, in probably the busiest Fast tire change stations in the world
The epic June-trilogy might be the highlight of the season for Dunlop, but in the end, the events are also provides only three out of more than 300 races in a year in which Dunlop many cars and motorcycles with tires. From January to December – a race that never ends.
Dunlop at the 24 hours of Le Mans (photo: Dunlop)
