Dunlop

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ‘Sprint’ tyre Spices up Queensland Raceway and Winton

V8 SUPERCAR FANS AND DRIVERS ALIKE EXPERIENCED SOME RADICAL PASSING AT BOTH QUEENSLAND RACEWAY (APRIL 30-MAY 2) AND WINTON RACEWAY (MAY 14-16) WITH DUNLOP’S SOFT COMPOUND SP SPORT MAXX ‘SPRINT’ TYRE BACK SPICING UP THE RACING

James Courtney became the first man since Bathurst 2008 to knock Jamie Whincup off the top of the Championship standings as he stormed to four successive race wins, two at each track.

Teams were able to take advantage of the significant speed advantages of the much faster ‘Sprint’ tyre, however recent V8 Supercar rule changes meant that they had to rethink their race strategies this year compared to 2009. Dunlop’s V8 Operations Manager, Kevin Fitzsimons, explained.

“The SP Sport Maxx ‘Sprint’ tyre was utilised differently at Queensland Raceway and Winton as distinct to how it was used last year,” Mr Fitzsimons said.

“In 2009, teams were able to use a designated soft option set of tyres at any time over the weekend’s
two races, while racing on the existing Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ‘Control’ tyre at all other times.

“This year at these events, the V8 Supercars decided to try something new with all teams racing on the ‘Sprint’ tyre exclusively.

“This new format again had drivers and teams thinking long and hard about their race strategies and car setups. Congratulations must go to James Courtney and the Jim Beam Racing team for mastering the changes.

“Compared to Dunlop’s ‘Control’ tyre, the ‘Sprint’ is designed to be significantly faster early – around 1 to 1.5 seconds per 60-second lap faster – before wearing out rapidly, as requested by V8 Supercars,” said Mr Fitzsimons.

Tags: Dunlop control tyre, SP SPORT MAXX ‘SPRINT’ TYRE, V8 Supercar