TYRES: Dunlop unveils new V8Supercar control tyre
Leading brand Dunlop releases details of new V8 Supercar control tyreTorturing an estimated 115,000 tyres over a period of 11 years in the V8Supercar championship has led Dunlop to develop all-new race rubber for the 2013 series, the debut year for the new ‘Car of the Future’ formula.
The tyre maker recently unveiled its new 18-inch Dunlop Sport Maxx V8Supercar Championship (V8SC) control tyre as part of the Car of the Future program.
“The race track is where the development begins for Dunlop tyres. After over 11 years of evolving and advancing tread compounds for the V8SC control tyres on a 17-inch tyre platform, we will be moving to an all new 18-inch tyre for the Car of the Future in 2013,” said Dunlop V8SC Operations Manager, Kevin Fitzsimons.
“By the time the 18-inch tyre is introduced, Dunlop will have supplied approximately 115,000 17-inch Sport Maxx control tyres to the V8SC and Dunlop Series.”
As part of the Car of the Future project, V8SC supplied Dunlop with specific performance parameters that the new 18-inch tyres were required to meet in regards to grip, lap speed and wear rates.
“Like this year [2012], there will be two compounds used in 2013 – Sport Maxx Control and Sport Maxx Sprint – in a variety of formats to spice up the racing. Our objective is to help ensure entertainment for the fans while guaranteeing stable tyre performance, combined with the deliberate degradation at predetermined rates for the drivers and teams to strategize with,” Mr Fitzsimons said.
The Control designation will continue to be the standard tyre, while the Sprint will be the softer option that is initially approximately one second quicker per lap than the Control and lasts approximately 100km before the predetermined deterioration sets in, slowing its times.
The strategies each team employs as to when they fit the Sprint tyres play a vital role in the eventual race outcome, resulting in more action both on track and in pit lane.
With testing and tyre compound selections now completed, the new 18-inch Dunlop tyres will be made available to the V8SC teams from this month as they prepare their new cars for next year’s series.
The Dunlop Series will continue to utilise the 17-inch Dunlop Sport Maxx tyre through to the end of 2015, after which they will also switch to the 18-inch model.
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