Tyre brand Goodyear has returned to sportscar racing as a tyre supplier for the FIA World Endurance Championship, including the Le Mans 24-hour race.
The championship features long-distance races on four continents with Le Mans as the season finale – a race which Goodyear-equipped cars have won on 14 occasions.
Goodyear will develop a new range of racing tyres for the second-tier LMP2 class for the 2019-20 WEC season, starting at Silverstone in August.
Read this: Michelin extends association with World Endurance Championship
Ben Crawley, motorsport director at Goodyear, said: “The nature of the races, varying from four hours to 24 hours, means tyre choice and strategy are critical
“It provides a motivating challenge for our technology team in our European innovation centres ahead of exploring other racing opportunities for the brand.”
Crawley said the entry into the WEC could precede further deals by Goodyear, which also supplies tyres for the Nascar Cup Series.
The US brand has a strong record as a tyre supplier in motorsport.
In addition to the 14 wins in the Le Mans 24 hours, Goodyear tyres were used to win 368 Formula One Grands Prix – a record that stands unbeaten.
Goodyear also has decades of sportscar racing experience in American IMSA racing.