Goodyear will headline the long-awaited return of the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) to the United Kingdom this weekend, serving as title sponsor of the Goodyear 4 Hours of Silverstone. The Goodyear-sponsored race marks the first ELMS event on British soil since 2019 and serves as the penultimate round of the 2025 season.
Goodyear has continued this season as the exclusive tire supplier for both the LMP2 and LMGT3 categories in ELMS, roles it has held since 2021 and 2024 respectively, supplying tires to 34 of the record-breaking 44 full-season entries. Goodyear will equip 13 LMP2, 8 LMP2 Pro-Am, and 13 LMGT3 entrants at Silverstone; more than three-quarters of the entire grid.
At every ELMS round, Goodyear supplies entrants with a single slick and wet-weather specification. For Silverstone, LMP2 competitors will run Goodyear’s newly developed ‘Eagle’ slick specification – first introduced at the 4 Hours of Le Castellet in May – featuring a special-edition sidewall design celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Goodyear Blimp. The branding debuted in Europe with LMGT3 competitors at Spa’s WEC round in May, and in the US on NASCAR stock cars during the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway in April.
Teams competing in LMGT3 will run Goodyear’s proven ‘Eagle Medium’ slick compound, the same tire used by LMGT3 entrants at all other ELMS rounds, as well as at WEC races at Qatar, Imola and Spa, and at Le Mans. These tires will also carry the commemorative Blimp branding.
Mike McGregor, Head of Endurance Racing EMEA, Goodyear: « Silverstone is one of the world’s most iconic circuits, steeped in motorsport and racing heritage, so to be the title sponsor of ELMS’ long-awaited return to the UK is a privilege for Goodyear. This partnership not only underlines Goodyear’s commitment to endurance racing, but also brings us closer to our customers and fans in the United Kingdom.
‘Our ‘Eagle’ slick specification for LMP2 has already shown its strengths since being introduced earlier this season, including at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. With a diverse grid of driver experience, it is vital that the tire offers drivability, is forgiving, and remains trusted to race on by an array of drivers with a range of driving styles. That same philosophy is central to our LMGT3 product too, ensuring every driver can push to the limit with trust in their Goodyear tires. »
Goodyear’s partnership with ELMS underlines its long-term commitment to endurance racing, both as a competitive platform for tire development and as a showcase for the brand’s motorsport innovation. This year’s racing activity in Europe and the US has held added significance for Goodyear as it coincides with the 45th anniversary of the Eagle brand and the centenary of Goodyear’s most famous ambassador, the Goodyear Blimp.
Fans to vote for Goodyear Wingfoot Award winners
At Silverstone, fans will also once again help decide the Goodyear Wingfoot Award winners at the end of the race.
For each category (LMP2, LMP2 Pro/Am and LMGT3), a panel of experts from Goodyear and ELMS will create a shortlist at the end of the race, before fans have the chance to cast votes on Instagram. This ‘driver of the day’ format puts supporters at the heart of the action and highlights the performances that make endurance racing so thrilling.
McGregor adds: « The fan-driven format for the Goodyear Wingfoot Award that we’ve employed in both ELMS and WEC this year has been hugely successful. So far this season we’ve seen ten different Goodyear Wingfoot Award winners across all categories, which reflects the sheer competitiveness of the ELMS grid. We look forward to seeing who the Silverstone crowd will choose to celebrate this weekend. »
Track action at Silverstone begins with free practice and qualifying sessions on Friday 12 and Saturday 13 September. The Goodyear 4 Hours of Silverstone gets underway at 12:00 BST on Sunday 14 September.
Marco Lo Prato,