Tire supplier Dunlop, which shod several cars in the American Le Mans Series for several years, has announced its withdrawal from the series, though the company will continue to supply the World Endurance Championship.
Dunlop, owned by U.S. tire giant Goodyear, provided rubber for the 2011 P1 champion Dyson Racing team, two-time GTE champion BMW Team RLL, Paul Miller Racing, as well as all P2 teams.
“The U.S. racing schedule presents conflicts with several international championships in which we are involved, so we were obliged to make a choice,” Dunlop Motorsport Director Jean-Félix Bazelin told Endurance-Info.com. “I thank the teams of the ALMS for four years of support.”
Deeper reasons for Dunlop’s withdrawal are a matter for speculation. Last year Dyson was uncompetitive, the low-funded Miller Porsche is never a championship contender, and BMW’s plans for the future are up in the air.
Also up in the air is the 2014 season. NASCAR has bought ALMS and plans to merge it with Grand Am, which uses Continental tires exclusively.
