July 17th, 2024.



This weekend, Dunlop heads into round three of the FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) season, supporting top teams racing in both the Formula EWC and Dunlop Superstock categories of the championship at Suzuka Circuit in Japan.

Following a strong start to the 2024 EWC season with the 24 Heures Motos in April and the 8 Hours Spa in June, Dunlop heads to Japan for the only EWC race outside of Europe, where the top endurance teams will go head-to-head for eight hours.

This year, Dunlop will provide tyres to ten teams fighting for the outright victory in Formula EWC, and all fourteen teams racing in the Dunlop Superstock category. For the first time, Superstock points earned at the Suzuka 8 Hours will count towards the FIM Endurance World Cup. This change offers European Superstock teams the opportunity to contest one of international motorcycle racing’s most prestigious events, now with the added significance of it contributing to the overall championship.

Amongst the top Formula EWC teams equipped with Dunlop are the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team and KM99 Yamaha, both full-season teams travelling from Europe. Two other European teams, Tati Team Beringer Racing Honda and Motobox Kremer Racing Yamaha, have also chosen Dunlop tyres for Suzuka, demonstrating the confidence that leading teams have in Dunlop's performance and reliability. Tati Team Beringer Racing is the leading independent outfit so far in 2024 and currently stands third in the overall championship. Six local Japanese teams have chosen Dunlop tyres, representing manufacturers such as Honda, BMW, Suzuki and Yamaha.

The Dunlop operation brings together expertise from Europe and Japan, offering a diverse range of tires to ensure each team receives familiar products and comprehensive support throughout the event. Dunlop teams benefit from a wide range of tires, including multiple variations of the KR racing slick range, specifically the KR149 and KR151 for the front, and the KR133 for the rear. Competing at the highest level in the Endurance World Championship provides Dunlop with valuable track time to conduct active research and development to test the next generation of tires in a highly demanding environment, and where there is a free choice of tire brands amongst Formula EWC competitors.

Dunlop tyre support package
This year, three European Superstock teams are making the journey to Suzuka from Europe: Team Étoile BMW, National Motos Honda and Wójcik Racing Team Honda. These teams will benefit from the tyre support package offered jointly by Dunlop and FIM Endurance World Championship promoter Warner Bros Discovery Sports. As part of the initiative, ten sets of tyres will be provided as sponsorship for each European Superstock team contesting the third event of the EWC season, incentivising their participation in the prestigious 8 Hour race.

A number of top Japanese teams have also chosen Dunlop tyres, including teams operating with Aprilia, BMW, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha machinery in the Dunlop Superstock category.

“We are proud to be supporting such a diverse and competitive field of teams at the Suzuka 8 Hours, leveraging our expertise from both Europe and Japan to support outfits from all over the world,” commented Wim Van Achter, Motorsport Manager, Dunlop Motorcycle Europe.

“Racing at Suzuka is a different challenge compared to the races held so far this year at Le Mans and Spa-Francorchamps, but we’re pleased to have support from Dunlop Japan to ensure every team gets the level of service and support they require. The tyre support package we have in place for European Superstock teams highlights our commitment to championing competition within teams and showcasing the innovation and durability of Dunlop tires at one of the most demanding race circuits in the world.”

On-track action begins at Suzuka with free practice, qualifying, and night practice all scheduled for Friday the 19th of July, followed by a final top-10 qualifying shootout on Saturday afternoon. The 45th edition of the Suzuka 8 Hours gets underway at 11:30 local time (04:30 CEST) on Sunday, the 21st of July.


www.dunlopmotorcycle.co.uk