Dunlop Le Mans 2016 Tyre Range

© DR

Dunlop is supplying tyres for 27 cars across all four Le Mans classes in 2016, more than any year in the millennium. Dunlop will be taking over 6000 tyres using ten trucks with over 80 personnel required to provide fitting, engineering and support.

 

Each class has different regulations and requirements and consequently different tyre specifications.

LMP1 – Confidential tyre range
-• Dunlop’s return to LMP1 competition for the first time since 2012
•- Two Rebellion Racing cars and one Bykolles Racing Team CLM
•- Tyres permitted per car
Free practice, qualifying and warm-up: 28
Race: 64
Supplementary tyres for use in any session: 4

Dunlop has developed new tyres for these teams and is allowed to continue development throughout the year. While the number of tyres for each event are restricted there can be changes to specifications for following events.

LMP2 – Set specification (soft, medium, medium-plus, intermediate, wet)
• Open tyre competition
• 20 of the 23 entries have chosen to compete on Dunlop tyres
• All three dry specifications declared at the start of the season are available for the event
• Tyres permitted per car
Free practice, qualifying and warm-up: 7 sets (2 front + 2 rear)
Race: 16 sets
Supplementary tyres for use in any session: 4
The LMP2 range is completely new, developing from the strong 2015 performance but providing a wider operating window and greater consistency.

LMGTE Pro – Confidential tyre range
•- Bespoke product for Aston Martin Racing
-• 2 cars
•- Tyres permitted per car
Free practice, qualifying and warm-up: 8 sets (2 front + 2 rear)
Race: 16 sets
Supplementary tyres for use in any session: 4
The LMGTE Pro range will continue to be developed throughout the season.

LMGTE Am – Set specification (soft, medium, medium-plus, intermediate, wet)
•- 2 cars
•- Specification for full season as declared at Silverstone round
•- Tyres permitted per car
Free practice, qualifying and warm-up: 8 sets (2 front + 2 rear)
Race: 16 sets
Supplementary tyres for use in any session: 4
      
Mike McGregor, Dunlop Manager Testing & Track Support: « 2016 is a big year for Dunlop. More cars have chosen to compete on Dunlop tyres than any year this millennium – the most previously was 23 cars in 2012. We have a completely new tyre range for all four classes so that has been a big task for our designers and factories over the winter. We’ve also been testing extensively to make sure that our teams’ tyre/chassis combinations work as well as possible. The LMP1 and LM GTE Pro development programmes are progressing well and are a big step for us back into those categories.

« In LMP1 we have already had some great results at Silverstone and Spa including two overall podium places which has shown that we are heading in the right direction. In LMP2 we have the majority of the cars on Dunlop teams which means that we will only be happy with a win, but the competition is strong so that is far from a foregone conclusion. Our Aston Martins have had success already this year so we are hoping to be in podium contention in both classes. »      

Practice and qualifying for the 24 Hours of Le Mans takes place on 15th & 16th June. The race starts at 15.00 CEST on Saturday 18th June.

James Bailey,

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