Two Goodyear associates killed in Nürburgring test incident

Two Goodyear associates based in Luxembourg have been killed in a vehicle incident at the Nürburgring on 9 August. Tyrepress understands from test industry sources that 39-year-old driver Christian Franck, a popular member of the tyre testing community and title-winning motorsport driver from Luxembourg, is one of the deceased. Goodyear told Tyrepress that it is assisting local authorities with their investigation into the incident. Goodyear representatives added that the company is “deeply saddened” that its associates had lost their lives and that its “immediate concern” is for the family, friends, and colleagues of its associates.

A source in the highly interconnected automotive testing industry told Tyrepress that “everyone, across all companies in the tyre test community have been left reeling” by the news. Christian Franck has been a test driver at Goodyear for 17 years, recently working on Goodyear’s OEM Porsche tyre development. Sources tell Tyrepress that he was an “accomplished driver” and frequent winner of karting, circuit racing, slalom and mountain races.

Goodyear’s EMEA press team provided Tyrepress with the following statement: “We are deeply saddened that two Luxembourg-based Goodyear associates passed away on August 9 following a vehicle incident that occurred at a test track in Germany. We are assisting the local authorities with the investigation.

“Our immediate concern is for our associates’ family and friends, as well as their co-workers in Luxembourg.”