Dunlop supports European and Japanese teams at the 8 Hours of Suzuka

This weekend, Dunlop enters the third round of the Endurance World Championship (EWC), supporting the top teams competing in the Formula EWC and Dunlop Superstock categories at the Suzuka circuit in Japan.

After a strong start to the EWC season with the 24 Heures Motos in April and the 8 Hours of Spa in June, Dunlop heads to Japan for the only EWC race outside of Europe, where top endurance teams will battle it out over eight hours.

This year, Dunlop will provide tires for the ten teams fighting for outright victory in Formula EWC, and all fourteen teams competing in the Dunlop Superstock category. For the first time, Superstock points earned at Suzuki will count towards the FIM World Cup. This change offers European Superstock teams the opportunity to compete in one of the most prestigious events in international motorcycle racing, now with added significance as it contributes to the overall championship.

Among the best Formula EWC teams equipped with Dunlop are BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team and KM99 Yamaha, both teams traveling from Europe throughout the season. Two other European teams, Tati Team Beringer Racing Honda and Motobox Kremer Racing Yamaha, have also chosen Dunlop tires for Suzuka, demonstrating the confidence the leading teams have in Dunlop’s performance and reliability. Tati Team Beringer Racing is the leading independent team so far in 2024 and is currently third overall. Six local Japanese teams have chosen Dunlop tyres, representing manufacturers such as Honda, BMW, Suzuki and Yamaha.

Dunlop’s operation brings together expertise from Europe and Japan, offering a wide range of tires to ensure every team receives familiar products and comprehensive support throughout the event. Dunlop teams benefit from a wide range of tyres, including multiple variations of the KR racing line, notably the KR149 and KR151 front and KR133 rear tyre. Competing at the highest level in the EWC Championship provides the company with valuable track time to conduct active research and development to test the next generation of tires in a highly demanding environment where there is a free choice of tire brands among Formula EWC competitors.

This year, three European Superstock teams travel to Suzuka: Team Etoile BMW, National Motos Honda and Wojcik Racing Team Honda. These teams will benefit from a tire support package jointly offered by Dunlop and EWC Championship promoter Warner Bros Discovery Sports. As part of the initiative, ten sets of tires will be provided as sponsorship for each European Superstock team competing in the third event of the season, encouraging their participation in the prestigious race.

A number of top Japanese teams have also chosen Dunlop tyres, including teams working with names such as Aprilia, BMW, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha.

“We are proud to support such a diverse and competitive field of teams at this prestigious race, using our expertise from Europe and Japan”commented Wim Van Achter, motorsport manager at Dunlop’s European branch.

“Racing at Suzuka is a different challenge compared to the races held so far this year at Le Mans and Spa-Francorchamps. We are delighted to be there to ensure that every team gets the level of service and support they need. The tire support package we have in place for European teams in the Superstock category underlines our commitment to championship competition within the teams and to showcasing the innovation and durability of Dunlop tires on one of the most demanding race tracks in the world.”