When the 24-Hour Race at Nürburgring starts on Sunday, all the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 will be equipped with Dunlop Sport Maxx racing tyres. Seven AMG-Mercedes take part in the event, over the Pentecost weekend, competing in the strongest class (battling among 33 GT3 cars) for the prestigious endurance crown. Dunlop development partners ROWE RACING have four of the SLS AMG GT3 entered and the Black Falcon team will send three racing gullwings into the race. Dunlop has been involved in the development work of the new SLS AMG GT3 since the beginning of the project and is the first tire manufacturer to be a technical partner of the AMG Customer sport department.
The performance of race tire from Dunlop is a key element in making the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 a top contender in the most gruelling race. “We have made development steps during the winter months focussing on the warm-up behaviour of the tires “says Carsten Müller, from Dunlop Motorsport. “We also have new specifications for the SLS AMG GT3 to offer more grip and braking power. “
The goal is to build on last year’s performance. In 2012, development partners ROWE RACING took two wins in the highly competitive VLN Endurance Championship win and led the 24h race.
Hans-Peter Naundorf, ROWE RACING Team Principal: “We are targeting victory.We want to win the 24-hour race with Dunlop!”. This team comes with a high-profile driver line-up, including some of the best Nordschleife experts. After testing and the first two races of the VLN Long Distance Championship, the drivers are very satisfied with the performance of the Dunlop Tires. “The Dunlop tires and AMG-Mercedes harmonize very well.”says ROWE driver Kenneth Heyer. “The tire transfers the technology of the vehicle and the driver’s ability to the road, making it one of the most important factors for the overall performance.There is close cooperation between the Dunlop engineers and the ROWE RACING team. This is an advantage. “
AMG factory driver Thomas Jäger adds: “It is very important to understand tire performance in different temperatures in order to make the right tire choice. I am very confident for the 24-hour race. We’ve worked with Dunlop to achieve some important advances.”
Premiere for Dunlop Art Car at the Nordschleife
Dunlop invented the pneumatic tyre 125 years ago, and to celebrate this, Dunlop have extended their long-running Le Mans Art Car competition to also cover the 24h race.
ROWE RACING and Dunlop will enter a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 in a special Dunlop anniversary design. Alexander Kühn, Manager, Dunlop Motorsport Germany, states. “A work of art designed as a race car is an idea we first used in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In the black and yellow AMG Mercedes, all the yellow elements on the vehicle are in a special reflective foil that will glow during the night”
Black Falcon sought the 24-second victory of the year
Black Falcon in 2012 and 2013 won the the Dunlop 24-Hour Race have also chosen Dunlop for the long distance classic in the Eifel. “After a successful title defence early in the year at the 24-hour race in Dubai, the team is highly motivated, “says Black Falcon CEO Alexander Böhm. “Now we are putting all of our efforts into our mission of overall victory at the Nürburgring 24h. “
This team has a strong depth of talent in the driving seats. Three-time 24h Dubai winner, F1 driver and DTM champion Bernd Schneider, who is partnered by Jeroen Bleekemolen and Sean Edwards heads their driver line-up.
Source : Dunlop