Performance car drivers are being sought by Dunlop to take part in a national tyre test to discover what difference the choice of tyre makes to their car. The company will provide tyres and tuition from a top Hi-Q British Touring Car Championship driver to transform the driving experience of 6 drivers from across the UK. The test, which will run throughout the summer will be launched at the Goodwood Festival of Speed where drivers will be able to put themselves forward to take part.

James Bailey, Dunlop’s communications manager said; “We want drivers to understand what difference the tyres make to their car. Dunlop incorporate design elements from race tyre technology in our road tyres to improve the connection and feedback between driver, car and road. More drivers have won demanding races such as the Le Mans 24 hours and British Touring Car championship on Dunlop than any other tyre make, and we want to show drivers how this experience translates into ultimate road tyre performance”

Dunlop sent one of its own car tyre business managers, Clinton Stopford along to the Donington race circuit to see how race tyre technology influenced road tyres.

He said; “Racing teams understand the importance of tyres, selecting different ones for different conditions – something we’re all familiar with watching motorsport on TV. Racing teams know that no matter how much power they can squeeze out of the car, it has to be successfully transmitted to the track providing traction and grip. The same applies to performance road cars”

Clinton compared his BMW 3 series with the Team RAC version raced by Hi-Q BTCC driver Colin Turkington and the pair exchanged tyre tips. Clinton added; “BTCC cars are thoroughbred race machines, but use many parts from the standard road car. Similarly, the Dunlop Sport Maxx road tyres use compound and construction technology derived from the Dunlop race tyres”

Organisers of the tyre test would like a good cross section of cars and drivers to take part. James Bailey said; “ We’d like to go right across the performance car spectrum with this test, whether hot-hatches, sports saloons such as Clinton’s BMW or right up to something in the supercar league. We are offering participants a free set of whichever Dunlop performance tyres are appropriate for their car plus track training from one of the Hi-Q BTCC drivers. All we need them to do is tell us about the difference the Dunlop tyres and the BTCC driver training have made to their car and their driving experience.”

Drivers who want to be considered to take part should come along to the Dunlop stage in the stableyard at Goodwood during the Festival of Speed on July 4th, 5th or 6th and tell the Dunlop team about themselves and their car.

ENDS
About Dunlop

Dunlop is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high and ultra high performance tyres with an impressive track record of motor sport successes. Dunlop’s extensive racing experience has led to innovative technologies for tyres designed for everyday motoring. Always looking to maximize driving pleasure, Dunlop offers all types of motorists the performance and durability of the latest tyre technologies, including tyres with RunOnFlat technology, which is fitted to award winning vehicles such as the BMW One, Three, Five Series and X5.

Many of the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers’ fit Dunlop tyres as standard, which include premium sports cars such as Alfa Romeo, AMG, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Jaguar, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and TVR.

For more information on Dunlop, visit www.driversknow.co.uk