Dunlop unveils soft compound tyre as BTCC launches with capacity grid

The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship has launched its 2013 season at Donington Park with a full to capacity, record grid of 32 cars from 18 teams. 26 of these will be next generation touring car specification, while the remaining six S2000 cars will compete for the Jack Sears Trophy. The home broadcaster of the BTCC, ITV announced that its support would continue to at least 2017, with more than 230 hours of coverage planned for 2013 across ITV and ITV4, on which live coverage will be broadcast. Tyre supplier Dunlop introduced its tyre range for the championship, with the most notable change from the 2012 season being the introduction of a soft compound slick. Dunlop representatives told Tyrepress.com that the change in tyre regulations would help the brand “to converse about tyre characteristics”, giving a fillip to its overall marketing profile.

The introduction of the softer tyre means that drivers are required to nominate at least one race during nine of the ten weekends in which they will use the “option” tyre. The exception to this rule is the Thruxton weekend, for which Dunlop is providing a special hard compound tyre to combat its particularly abrasive surface. James Bailey, director, Marketing and Communications, Dunlop Motorsport Europe said that the tyre is designed to come into its own in “sweet spots” throughout the year, “when circuit conditions and the temperature are correct”. Dunlop says the tyre is a minimum of one second quicker than the regular tyres, but with a greater need for drivers to take care with degradation, since it can only sustain this advantage for around four laps. It is designed to make overtaking, faster starts and sprint finishes possible, promoting chances both for drivers to employ different tactics and for commentators and fans to talk more about tyre characteristics.

Dunlop has also changed the sidewall design of each of its tyres to include spectator friendly colour coding in 2013. The three slick tyres, branded ‘Dunlop Sport Maxx’, are marked with white (soft), black on a yellow background (medium) and yellow (hard). Dunlop named the slicks after its Sport Maxx Race road tyre, which has original equipment deals with cars such as the latest Mercedes C63 Black Series and uses compound derived from Dunlop Motorsport tyres.

The wet tyre is branded Dunlop BluResponse after the road tyre of the same name, which has a European tyre label A grade in wet grip across many of its sizes. The road tyre was launched in Dubai earlier this year (see February’s Tyres & Accessories for a full report). The BTCC tyre has a black logo on a silver background.

During the BTCC launch, Dunlop also emphasised its history, particularly in relation to motorsport. Cutting a cake shaped like the Dunlop bridge, Dunlop alluded to the fact that it is 125 years old in 2013, and has manufactured sports tyres since its foundation.

“The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship is one of the most exciting championships in our world of racing,” Bailey continued. “We are confident that the introduction of the softer Sport Maxx will spice up the racing and add to a new dimension to strategy and planning for each weekend. The new tyre uses a compound that has been proven in our 2012 Le Mans LMP2 winning programme and the clear colour differentiation will make it easier for spectators to see who has chosen this tyre.”

The BTCC season starts at Brands Hatch on 30-31 March with 13 models from 11 different marques, including both Honda and MG as official manufacturer teams, taking to the grid. Four champions will be on the 2013 grid, with returning 2009 victor Colin Turkington joining reigning champion Gordon Shedden and multiple title winners Matt Neal and Jason Plato.
 
Turkington spearheads the three-pronged eBay Motors line-up in the promising new BMW 125i M Sport prepared by former champion outfit West Surrey Racing. Shedden and Neal return for the all-conquering Honda Yuasa Racing Team which clinched Drivers’, Manufacturers’ and Teams’ Championship in 2012. Despite taking his record BTCC wins tally to 74, Plato had to settle for third place overall in 2012 in what was an impressive debut season for the new MG KX Momentum Racing team.
 
In addition to the official manufacturer entries, independent teams have entered cars from Audi (WIX Racing), BMW (eBay Motors), Chevrolet (BTC Racing, M247 Racing, Team Club 44), Ford (Addison Lee Motorbase, Airwaves Racing, Welch Motorsport with Sopp + Sopp), Honda (Pirtek Racing), Proton (Welch Motorsport with Sopp + Sopp), Seat (Team BMR Restart), Toyota (Ciceley, Dynojet, Speedworks), Vauxhall (RCIB Insurance Racing, Wheel Heaven/Houseman Racing) and Volkswagen (PPCGB.com/Kraftwerk Racing) – the latter two will be represented by their respective Insignia and Vectra and Golf and Passat models.

BTCC Series Director Alan Gow said: “The record entry list that we’ve announced today is a great validation of NGTC technical regulations and real testament to the continued success, growth and stability of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.
“The current health of the BTCC is absolutely fantastic and even more staggering, perhaps, with the challenging economic climate. Our teams have worked incredibly hard and have demonstrated real commitment to this championship – particularly as the majority have invested in the latest specification NGTC machinery. We continue to evolve this bright new era of the BTCC and all the teams have benefitted from the success of the championship.
 
“Our trackside attendance has increased year-on-year over the last decade. The ITV audience figures and airtime reached all-time highs last year and we have now proudly announced an important new contract with them until 2017. We’d also like to thank our other partners, not least of which is our title sponsor Dunlop – these companies recognise the importance and value of being involved in the BTCC.
 
“We have a huge grid – including four champions in the line-up – culminating in fresh colours, cars and stars in the BTCC. The strength in depth continues to rise along with the undoubted professionalism and turnout of our loyal and committed teams. That is why the BTCC is so firmly cemented as the UK’s premier and most popular motor sport series.”

HiQ continues sponsorship deals

Fast Fit retailer and Dunlop sister company HiQ also continues its sponsorship deal with the BTCC for the sixth year in succession, giving its name to the HiQ British Touring Car Championship Teams’ Championship. Retail director Farrell Dolan commented: “We re-launched the HiQ network in 2008 with the signing of new franchise stores, a new impactful visual identity and a plan to set new standards of service in the fast-fit market. Our BTCC sponsorship has helped achieve these goals and the extension of our investment to include the HiQ Team Championship during the last three years has helped drive our ambitions for the network in the tyre fitting and servicing market.”

BTCC has played an important role in HiQs development especially in the brands support of its corporate charity Breast Cancer Care. Thanks to the generosity of the sports passionate fans, HiQ has raised over £100,000 for this worthy charity. Dolan said “BTCC drivers, teams and fans really have embraced our fundraising efforts with our Grid Girl competition, collectables sales and even drivers dying their hair pink! We really can’t thank our supporters enough and congratulate last year’s HiQ Team Championship winners Honda Racing and wait with baited breath to see who will win what is set to be another thrilling season.”

Throughout the season, HiQ said it would “activate” its sponsorship through a series of exclusive fan giveaways and competitions. The retailer will give away tickets to each BTCC round through its social media channels. Fans will also be asked to engage with HiQ online for their chance to win the competitions and get involved with charity fundraisers as the company continues with their support of national charity Breast Cancer Care.