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Dunlop takes pole and class victories at nurburgring 24hrs

two wheels FOUR wheels

MX3 LE MANS SERIES Finnish rider Antti Pyrhönen Victory in GT1 class for Dunlop wins his career first World at Spa-Franchorchamps Championship moto on Dunlop 1000kms

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Issue three – may ‘09 fou2 wheelr wh NEWSeel NEWS

Lenu MANSrburgring 24 hrs dunlop celebrates overall pole and class wins at nurburgring

>>Raeder Motorsport Ford GT driver Dirk Adorf sneaks overall pole for Dunlop >>BMW’s M3 GT4 in the hands of WTCC stars sets pole in GT4 class >>Four class wins for VW & BMW on Dunlop tyres

he Nurburgring 24 hours is one was dry throughout, and so the Tof the most important races on winning Porsche was able to set the German motorsport calendar a new distance record, beating and so it was with a large sense of the previous best by more than Class winning VW Scirocco BMW M3 sets pole in GT4 class pride that Dunlop started the 2009 100km. edition from pole position, and Dirk Adorf, sharing the was able to repair the damage, the Jorg Muller, , Marcus recorded fastest laps in various Raeder Motorsport Ford GT car retired just past half distance Schurig and Jochen Ubler. classes, and celebrated class with development driver Thomas with an engine problem. Not only was Dunlop setting victories. Mutsch, circuit designer Herman Dunlop shod cars set fastest fastest laps in qualifying and in the No fewer than 180 cars started Tilke and Marc Henerici, led the laps in many of the classes during race, but teams were converting the 2009 race, which takes place field away from the green lights, the dry, fast race. In the SP6 class, the speed into results. , on the famous north loop of the and fended off a determined BMW’s Z4 coupe driven by BMW’s Thomas Klenke, and German circuit. The drivers call challenge from the Manthey factory drivers who normally won the AT the race the “Green Hell” due to Porsche 997 for the opening few contest the World Touring Car class in their alternative fuelled VW the conditions faced, including laps. Championship Dirk Muller, Augusto Scirocco. They completed more huge speed differential between Unfortunately, with so many Farfus, sharing with Claudia than 3,500 kilometers on their way the fastest and slowest cars, starters, traffic is always a problem Huertgen, set the fastest lap of to 17th position overall. the potential for snow, fog and and so it proved just five laps into the class with an 8m54.972s lap. Dunlop aslo helped BMW to two rain during the race, and the the race when the German slid off In the SP10 class, for GT4 cars, class wins, adding further laurels to challenging nature of the 25 km the track while lapping another car. BMW’s brand new M3 GT4 started the tyre company’s long history of circuit which first opened in 1927. The incident heavily damaged the from the class pole, and recorded success in endurance racing. This year’s race, unusually, front of the car. Though the team the fastest race lap in the hands of

BMW Z4 driven by WTCC drivers Muller and Farfus, joined by Claudia Huertgen Pole-sitter Raeder Motorsport Ford GT leading the field

> page 2 www.dunlop-tires.com fou2 wheelr wh NEWSeel NEWS

Le mans series Victory for Dunlop at Spa!

>>Luc Alphand Aventures wins Spa 1000kms and moves into GT1 class lead >>LMS GT2 results remain provisional >>Ginetta Zytek fastest in LMP2 on Dunlop tyres JMW Motorsport F430GT finished on the podium; second or third unlop celebrated victory Alphand Aventures moves into the Din the Spa 1000kms, the lead of the teams’ classification. race, to third place in class. Zytek, but they were forced to retire second race of the 2009 Le Mans > Controversy in GT2 However, in post race checks, after just 64 laps. The full focus for Series. , Luc The GT2 class, for GT cars the winning Porsche 997 was the Le Mans Series now shifts to Alphand and Yann Clairay won which run either with smaller tyres excluded, promoting the to the iconic Le Mans circuit for the the GT1 class in their road-based or more weight than the GT1 cars, second position. The results of the 77th edition of the legendary 24 Corvette C6R, a lap ahead of was plunged into controversy race are provisional pending an hour race on June 13th and 14th. the Murcielago of after the Spa 1000kms when the appeal by the Porsche team. Dunlop will be supplying tyres to , Eric Janis and Filip winning car was thrown out of the > Fastest lap for Dunlop in LMP2 11 competing cars including the Salaquarda. results on a technicality. and Miguel Amaral JMW Motorsport and The French reigning champion Dunlop’s JMW Ferrari F430GT set the fastest race lap in their the Luc Alphand Aventure Corvette team has switched from Michelin was leading the race comfortably LMP2 class Dunlop-shod Ginetta C6R. to Dunlop this season, and is when an error in the pits forced two already enjoying success. The pit stops in quick succession for team led the first race in Barcelona Italian driver Gianmaria Bruni. With in April before a driver error put the high level of competition within the Corvette into the gravel. There the class, that dropped him, and were no such problems at Spa Rob Bell who shared the driving and with victory in Belgium, Luc during the five hour, 45 minute

may poDIUM FINISHES

Class winning Corvette C6R of Luc Alphand Aventures

Luc Alphand Aventures victorious in GT1 class at Spa

Fastest lap for Dunlop in LMP2 with Ginetta Zytek

international race classes news telex >>BTCC: After four races in the British Touring Car Championship, Matt Neil is Paffett, Spengler and Ekström celebrate EuroSpeedway podium in DTM topping the driver standings driving his Vauxhall Vectra VXR albeit winning just one race of 12 on four various tracks. The BTCC series organisers have announced dramatic changes to the technical regulations for 2011 covering two-litre turbo-charged engines, front-wheel-drive and larger cars only. >>DTM: The German Touring Car series dominated by and Mercedes and with all 21 cars on Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tyres, is two races into the season. The first race at Hockenheim was dominated by Audi drivers Scheider and Kristensen. At the Eurospeedway it was Mercedes driver ’s turn to take the top podium spot. >>MINI-CHALLENGE: Mini celebrated its 50th birthday at Silverstone where both the German and British Mini- Challenge competed in various races. All Mini Cooper S cars run on Dunlop 215/45R17 Dunlop Formula R slick racing tyres. British Mini-Challenge podium GT-Open podium Algarve

> page 3 www.dunlop-tires.com fou2 wheelr wh NEWSeel NEWS

Dunlop Art Car Competition

2009 JMW Motorsport F430GT Winning design by Christian Baur ‘Dunlop’ car breaks cover

>>German designer wins DACC with ‘Feel the Road’ theme >>Total of 180 designs submitted by hopeful entrants >>Drivers Rob Bell, Tim Sugden and Andrew Kirkaldy to drive ‘Dunlop Art Car’ at Le Mans 24hrs

n 2008 the LMS GT2 championship compliments all contestants on their Iwinning and Dunlop supported creative skills and ingenuity. Spurred Ferrari F430 appeared in a yellow by the enthusiasm generated, Dunlop Dunlop branded livery that struck a put together a senior jury board, chord with fans and the paddock combining marketing, design and alike, so much so that the car was racing expertise. Dunlop Europe dubbed the ‘Dunlop car’. To build Brand Director Frédéric Schilling had on the popularity of the car Dunlop the pleasure of chairing the following Europe organized a pan European five experts who helped him pick the livery design competition called the designs that best expressed Dunlop’s Dunlop Art Car Competition (DACC). ‘Feel the Road’ concept. The panel The final result will be unveiled for all consisted of Jim McWhirter, owner to see at the upcoming Le Mans race of the JMW Motorsport Team, Daniel weekend as German competition Poissenot, Directeur Sports AOC winner Christian Bauer’s design (Organizer of the 24 Hours of Le graces the JMW Motorsport Ferrari Mans), Alfredo Palme, Pininfarina F430GT competing in the GT2 class. Chief Designer, Philippe Peter, LMS Twenty designs made it through (Le Mans Series) Organization and the preliminary national competitions Jean Felix Bazelin, Dunlop Motorsport that were held in , , General Manager. designs on the special DACC website and 2008 has already scored two , Portugal and the UK. From Also present at the race will be the at www.Dunlop.eu. podiums in the 2009 LMS campaign these 20 European semi finalists three finalist designers nominated by The JMW Motorsport Team driver and looks set to continue the success four designers have been invited to the jury, Christian Baur from Germany, line up for Le Mans consists of regular with Kirkaldy and Sugden onboard. join the 24 Hour of Le Mans race as Mrick Narbot from France, Christelle driver Rob Bell who will be joined by Kirkaldy drives with Bell in the FIA Dunlop’s VIP guests. Tea and Giselle Navarette from Andrew Kirkaldy and Tim Sugden for GT Championship and Sugden is a Dunlop would like to thank all France. The fourth finalist, Joao the legendary 24hrs race on the 13th Le Mans veteran and manages the of the 180 DACC participants for Pedro from Portugal, was selected by and 14th of June. Bell is no stranger JMW Motorsport Team when he’s not their efforts in making the livery members of the public who had the to success with the Ferrari, the behind the wheel. competition such a success and opportunity to rate and vote for the 20 reigning LMS GT2 champion of 2007

Finalist design by Mrick Narbot Finalist design by Christelle Tean and Giselle Navarette

Public favourite Joao Pedro from Portugal Ferrari F430 ready for its new livery

> page 4 www.dunlop-tires.com t2 wwoh eelwheel NEWS NEWS

GP250 / GP125

>>Wet 250GP races at both Le Mans and Mugello >>Simoncelli jumpes up to third in the 250GP Championship >>Bradley Smith takes the lead in the 125GP standings he French GP at Le Mans saw at least seven times it was Bradley Tboth the 125 and 250GP races Smith more than any other rider who run in wet weather yet again. The took the lead up the final straight, track suffers from low-grip in the the 125 bikes topping 240 kph! The wet, and combined with a surface 17 year old Briton went on to take temperature of just 15C meant his second career GP win by just crashing was the order of the day, 0.2 seconds from Nicolas Terol, with most noticeably in the 125 race Julian Simon this time having to settle where only 15 of the 33 starters for the third podium spot. Smith now made it to the chequered flag. leads the 125GP table, the first British Julian Simon gave a masterful rider to top a World Championship display of wet weather riding in the table since 1979. 125 GP class. Starting seventh on the grid, it took him just 3 laps to move The 250cc race, run in really heavy into the lead, which he extended rain, showcased both the talents throughout the rest of the race to of the riders, particularly Pasini, finish 27 seconds clear. Even more Simoncelli and Bautista, and the impressive was Jonas Folger, the performance of Dunlop’s KR191 15 year old German rider coming and KR393 wet tyres. Compared to through from 16th on the grid to take the dry qualifying lap time, the riders second by the half way point, and were lapping just 11% slower in the then holding off Simon’s team mates torrential wet conditions. Simoncelli and Bradley Smith for led from the start but was caught OE news the remaining 12 laps to take his first by Bautista and Pasini, on lap 11 ever podium. Simoncelli and Bautista touched, TYre fitting Telex The adverse weather did little causing both riders to run off the to dampen ’s track through the gravel for over unlop has provided Harley- ’s new stylish chopper, the enthusiasm in the 250GP. The 100 metres. Both managed to stay DDavison with renewed tyres for a VTX Fury 1300, will be fitted with reigning 250cc World Champion was upright and rejoined to set about large selection of their motorcycles, Dunlop’s Elite 3 90/90-21 front tyre back on form, leading from start to trying to catch Pasini. The last lap i.e. for the Fat-Boy and Road King. and a wide 200/50R18 rear. finish first on his Gilera. Simoncelli saw Simoncelli and Pasini swopping The Milwaukee build bikes will opened up an 18 second gap over places constantly, but it was Pasini receive the updated D408F replacing Hector Faubel’s Honda to take a who held on to win by just 0.1 the D407F tyres that were fitted as well deserved win. , seconds. The first five 250 races this standard. The change in fitted front Marco’s Metis Gilera team-mate, year have been won by five different tyre will take place in the first half of finished third, with championship riders, setting up a very tight group the calendar year 2009. The D408F leader Alvaro Bautista just missing out at the top of the championship table. tyre will offer improved tyre wear for on a podium finish in fourth place. Bautista (Aprilia) is the current leader some customers over the D407F. > Mugello GP as the teams head to Spain for the The new D408F tyre is the D407F It was just about dry at Mugello for Catalunya GP in Barcelona on June pattern reversed with the internal the 125GP race. As ever, the Italian 14th, with Honda’s construction corrected to run in the circuit delivered a hotly contested 20 second but now challenged by Marco opposite direction. lap battle. Although the lead changed Simoncelli for the position. 60 years ago...

RACE CALENDAR

JUNE 14-06 Le Mans 24hrs MotoGP: Catalunya BTCC: Croft obert Leslie (Les) Graham 1940s. He won the inaugural Grand 28-06 GT-Open: Spa-Franchorchamps R(Sept. 14, 1911 - Jun. 12, 1953) Prix motorcycle racing 500 cc World MotoGP: Assen was a British motorcycle road racer Championship in 1949 riding a AJS DTM: who competed in the 1930s and Porcupine fitted with Dunlop tyres. > page 5 For more two wheel stories go to www.dunlopmotorcycle.eu t2 wwoh eelwheel NEWS NEWS

Q&a jean-felix bazelin: GENERAL MANAGER, MOTORSPORT EU

> How long have you worked then became Production and customers and dealers in categories with Dunlop, and what is your Maintenance Manager for the such as the DTM, BTCC and career history before joining Dunlop tyre factory in Amiens. Early in SuperMoto. the company? I started in the tyre ‘03, I made the move from my home > Can you see Dunlop building business in September 1980 when country of France to Birmingham in the successes of 2009 I was just out of university. At that to become Manufacturing Manager and building an even more time it was not with Dunlop (we all of the production of motorsport impressive 2010 programme? make mistakes when we are young!) tyres. In ‘04, I was asked to take Not only can I see that happening, I worked for Kleber tyres as a race responsibility of newly created but all the Motorsport EU team work service engineer. The best time Motorsport Europe PBU. towards the same target: winning! of that period was when I was in > How many people do you We want to build our credibility charge of the Audi Quattro World manage? Around 250. and successes step by step, but Rally program in 1982 with Hannu > Which are the most important are always seeking for more, to be Mikkola and Michèle Mouton, and programmes for Dunlop better, and quicker. compound treads and so on have we won a world title. I then went to Motorsport, and are you satisfied >What has been your proudest quickly moved from race tracks to the Kleber Troyes factory to become with the way they are developing moment working with Dunlop? hyper sport road bikes. an engineer for cross ply front wheel this year? All the programmes Working with teams of people that Today we are designing those farm tyres. are important, either because they have helped me to improve the new tyres that will bring our road My first job for Dunlop was in involve OE manufacturers, such satisfaction of our customers, our customers more safety, more grip, 1985, when I was recruited to as BMW in the ALMS and Suzuki colleagues and our stakeholders. more excitement of riding. Our take care of Original Equipment in World Endurance, or because On a more personal point of view, I designers from Birmingham and technical contacts for all product they allow us to compete with our thought I was a Frenchman coming Montluçon (motorcycle factory lines in Southern Europe. Between best competitors in the Le Mans to motorsport in UK, but actually I producing road tyres) work closely ‘89 and ‘02, I then went through an Series, Superbike and SuperSport became part of a great Motorsport together. Where this transfer of interesting and very varied career categories. We are continuously EU team of people, and that makes technology is newer is in car path. In marketing, I was product improving performances through me proud. products. In the last five years manager for passenger car tyres. technology, and the programmes > How have you managed to we have seen Motorsport and As after sales representative I provide a marketing platform transfer the technology you have mainstream products coming closer was Technical Service Manager for our advertising and image used for racing into development together. High performance cars for Southern Europe, I was a building activities. We are also able for the road? Technology transfer have become more advanced, and Quality Assurance Manager and to strengthen our relations with is one of the major objectives of the technology is far closer to GT Dunlop Motorsport EU assigned by racing cars. In endurance racing, the the Goodyear Dunlop group. number of tyres available to each car we are in a climate when it is is limited, and so as with road cars not enough to use Motorsport as a we need a longer life span. The rules marketing tool. We must add actual demand that a tyre’s geometrical technical benefits to the marketing size is compatible with road cars. ones. For many years we have seen Track days are also reducing the that the top range of motorcycle gap between road and race tyres! road tyres are pretty close to the We have fruitful exchanges between bottom range of racing tyres. The Motorsport EU design, development technology transfer was obvious: for engineers, and our development a motorcycle fan riding on Superbike centers for mainstream car products (or even MotoGP) technology five in Luxemburg and Germany, and years after it had been raced was more will come. It would be a pity not unusual. High grip compounds, not to exploit our strong position in exotic fiber construction, multi international GT2 races (Le Mans Luc alphand (left) and jean felix Bazelin (right) Series with Ferrari, with BMW) as well as MX3 our long term connections with the European GT Open championship to provide our road customers with the PYRHÖNEN WINS MX3 IN CHILE spin-offs of our racing results. he fast Fin Antti Pyrhönen Caren track did not see rain for the changed his strategy preserving CONTACTS Twon his career first World last two month, causing the track to his strengths better over the race Championship moto at the fourth get more compact and harder as the and taking maximum benefit of his Jeremy Ferguson round of the 2009 MX3 series event progressed. For this reason exemplary fitness. After passing International Motorsport Manager that was held at the sandy circuit Antti changed from the MX11 on Matevz Irt (Slo) he took the lead and of Laguna Caren in Chile in front the rear in practice to the MC763 held it to the flag, setting the fastest [email protected] of a massive crowd of 30.000 which better suited the harder track lap of the race along the way. Dunlop Motorsport Division spectators. conditions in the race. Pyrhönen is the first Fin in Dunlop Tyres Ltd Antti used the versatile Dunlop In the first heat Pyrhönen finished ten years to win a MX3 World Fort Dunlop D773F front tyre both in practice fifth. After taking the holeshot he Championship moto. Birmingham and the race which dealt brilliantly led the race for about ten minutes The 41 points collected in Chile B24 9QT - United Kingdom with the soft sand as well as when but then had to slow down as he promote Pyrhönen to fourth in the Tel: +44 121 306 6000 the surface hardened during the used too much energy trying to stay MX3 standings, 32 points adrift of fax: +44 121 306 7000 weekend. The soil of the Laguna in front. For the second moto Antti championship leader Julien Vanni (F). e-mail: [email protected] > page 6 For more two wheel stories go to www.dunlopmotorcycle.eu