Tyre Manufacturer Races on Regardless

Special hand-finished racing tyres manufactured in Birmingham by Dunlop are continuing to be popular, despite the difficult financial environment and the knock-on effect this has had on motorsport. According to the tyre manufacturer more people race on Dunlop tyres than any other brand in the UK and the company’s continue to be shipped around the globe as they have done since 1888.

Fort Dunlop produced over 200,000 specialist high technology tyres in 2008 and is set to build on this in 2009. Dunlop race tyres are used in many race championships for cars and motorcycles including the prestigious Le Mans 24 hour race and the famous Isle of Man TT races.

Jean-Felix Bazelin, General Manager Dunlop Motorsport Europe said: “Tyres made at our Birmingham plant will be chosen by top drivers and riders to compete on some of the most exciting vehicles and race circuits in the world. Dunlop is specified as the ‘standard’ tyre in many competitions. In the UK that includes the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship and the Dunlop Sport Maxx cup. We believe that race championships such as these will continue to flourish, albeit with some budgetary restraint in 2009.”

“Motorsport at a regional or national level is by no means cheap for competitors, but it also delivers a very cost effective marketing opportunity for driver and team sponsors. For this reason we believe that motorsport will continue – albeit with tightened budgets – for the foreseeable future and that Dunlop racing tyres will continue to contribute to racing thrills for many years to come.”