Competitors in the British Touring Car Championship will use Goodyear-branded tires on their cars in 2020. The US brand will replace Dunlop, which has been the sole tire supplier to the BTCC since 2003 and served as the series title sponsor between 2005-2007 and 2010-2018.
Announcing the program during the 2019 BTCC finale at Brands Hatch, Goodyear motorsport director Ben Crawley said the decision was made with a view to enhancing Goodyear’s brand within the motorsport and ultra-ultra-high-performance (UUHP) segments.
The brand launched its Eagle F1 SuperSport range of road tires in 2019 and returned to European and International sportscar racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).
Goodyear has also been the sole tire supplier to NASCAR’s three top series in America since 1997 and is currently working with NASCAR on a new tire for introduction in 2021. This is likely to expand the diameter of the current 15in tire to 18in and will be introduced at the same time as NASCAR’s Gen7 race car.
According to Crawley, Goodyear chose the BTCC for the second step of its European racing comeback because the series provides a strong platform for demonstrating tire technologies on a wide range of saloon cars. It also provides the right marketing platform to reach high-performance car enthusiasts within the UK.
“The recent launch of Goodyear’s Eagle F1 SuperSport range and relaunch into motorsport shows how the brand is applying itself to a broader range of initiatives within the ultra-high-performance automotive sector,” Crawley said. “The BTCC is one of the best-loved, most famous motor racing championships in the world and it will provide a great opportunity for Goodyear to get close to the hearts and minds of motorsport enthusiasts.”
BTCC Series director Alan Gow added, “Goodyear has a proud and proven history in motorsport, spanning multiple decades and championships. It provides knowledge from a global program of racing experience making it a strong partner for the championship going forward.”
