Dunlop wants extra cars, not more testing time

After parting methods with Workforce Mugen over the winter, Dunlop returned to supplying only one automobile in SUPER GT’s prime class this season, the Nakajima Racing Honda NSX-GT.

The #64 automobile shared by Takuya Izawa and rookie Kakunoshin Ota scored second in a rain-affected Fuji spherical in August, however has in any other case struggled for competitiveness.

Following a breakthrough victory for Yokohama at Suzuka in June, Dunlop is the one one of many 4 tyre producers within the sequence that has but to attain a victory up to now in 2023.

With Michelin leaving the GT500 class on the finish of this season, discussions have taken place with the remaining manufacturers and sequence promoter GTA to try to improve the competitiveness of the tyre warfare.

However with dominant marque Bridgestone probably in line to bolster its automobile rely from 10 to 12 vehicles subsequent season if it picks up the 2 NISMO-run Nissans at present provided by Michelin, there are fears of Yokohama and Dunlop being additional marginalised.

Dunlop Japan’s motorsport division supervisor Yoshinao Yasuda believes that the one solution to steadiness issues out is to discover a solution to enable Bridgestone’s rivals to provide extra vehicles, however concedes that is unlikely for 2024.

“We want to have extra vehicles, however I don’t see a lot probability,” Yasuda instructed Motorsport.com.

“We could have double the testing time through the season [compared to Bridgestone], but when they’ve 12 vehicles, it doesn’t matter. It’s not concerning the testing time. We simply want extra vehicles to not less than strive our tyres, however that’s the arduous half.

“The GTA is attempting to do as a lot as attainable and we respect that, but it surely’s primarily further testing time [that has been discussed]. That’s not the principle subject. 

“We simply want a second automobile, however you’ll be able to’t power somebody to run a selected tyre.”

 

Yasuda feels that Dunlop has nonetheless made progress with its dry-weather tyres this season, with the Nakajima Honda squad displaying extra constant tempo than in previous seasons.

“Now we have been specializing in making the tyre contact with the bottom higher, and at last it’s began to work, particularly from the second Fuji race and the second Suzuka race. 

“For Sugo we made a mistake on the compound, however [despite qualifying poorly] we had been capable of run on the identical tempo because the vehicles in entrance [in the race], even when we couldn’t go them.”

There was additionally trigger for optimism when the Nakajima Honda topped the occasions in an in-season check final month at Motegi involving all 4 tyre manufacturers, though Yasuda stays cautious for Dunlop’s prospects within the season finale.

“We discovered a superb resolution for the final race, which we are going to test at Autopolis to ensure there are not any issues,” he defined.

“We received’t be capable of use the very same compound as a result of the temperature will likely be decrease, and we don’t know if that’s going to work with none testing. However on the very least, we’re assured it received’t be worse.”

Motorsport.television is exhibiting all qualifying classes and races for the 2023 SUPER GT season. For extra data, click on right here.