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Win a trip to the Bathurst 1000, worth up to $5000.
Dunlop and Carsguide are offering one lucky person a trip to the Bathurst 1000, worth up to $5000.
This competition is now closed....and we have a winner...
Amid the fanfare, loud noise and fast speeds at Mount Panorama this October there is a fair chance that a milestone or two will be reached, by any of the competing teams and drivers.
But away from the intrigue of lap times and championship points, a stalwart of Australian motorsport will achieve its own milestone during this year’s Bathurst 1000. Dunlop is set to supply its 70,000th control tyre to the V8 Supercar Championship Series since 2002, when they were first awarded the contract to be the sole supplier.
And you could be there to see that tyre in action. Dunlop and Carsguide are offering one lucky person a trip to the Bathurst 1000, worth up to $5000. The prize includes flights and accommodation, corporate box tickets, FPR pit tour and a chance to meet the FPR drivers, dinner with two-time Bathurst 1000 winner and V8 Supercar legend John Bowe, plus a Dunlop/Bathurst 1000 memorabilia wall piece signed by the event winner (including mounted control tyre sidewall and Dunlop cap).
To enter, in the comments box at the bottom tell us in less than 25 words why you’re the biggest Bathurst fan.
You must be over 18, and able to travel between 08/10/09 and 11/10/09. Entries close at 5pm AEST on Thursday, October 1. See full Terms and Conditions.
At the 2009 Bathurst 1000, the 70,000th Dunlop control tyre will be one of 28new tyres issued to each team for use over the course of the weekend, and will be a proud moment for the tyre maker.
“That is 70,000 purpose built, hand-made tyres, around 10,000 tyres a year and an achievement that Dunlop is understandably proud of,” Dunlop Operations Manager Kevin Fitzsimons says.
In a sport where technology and competition are everything, the milestone is even more impressive as there has been no major change to the tyres compound or structure since Dunlop first took over responsibility for supply apart from the introduction of the SP Sport Maxx ‘Sprint’ soft option at selected 2009 races.
“The success of the Dunlop V8 Supercar control tyres have been their capability of performing at maximum efficiency in the widest of racing environments whether it be hot or cold conditions, high speed or tight tracks, sprint or endurance races,” Fitzsimons said, as preparations for this year’s Bathurst race heighten in intensity.
“Given the huge variations in Australian circuit conditions and tyre temperatures, as well as the continually changing variables of the cars themselves, the control tyre’s consistency and durability is outstanding.”
Fitzsimons says the difference in tracks across Australia was an excellent reflection on how well the control tyre consistently performed. He cited Philip Island and Bathurst as stand-out examples of the tyre’s flexibility.
“The Philip Island circuit places a huge amount of lateral loading on the tyres, with the many fast and flowing corners throughout hard on the front of the car … whereas what we see at Bathurst are the tyres copping a heap of vertical loading – up and down pounding – a totally different impact on the tyre.”
“At some of the other tracks, we could well have a tyre specifically designed to their own individual conditions – but such is the variance in that case some tyres would be virtually useless on other tracks, a fact that again underlines the importance of a reliable control tyre.”
“For the same control tyre to handle the varying pressures is pretty incredible.”
“To have provided 70 000 tyres is something pretty special, when you take all that into account. To be able to say we’ve done it and continually met the demands, and added to the fantastic spectacle that is motorsport in Australia is an achievement we are really proud of,” Fitzsimons says.
Dunlop is currently in its third consecutive contract with V8 Supercars to provide the race control tyre. By 2012, it’s expected that the 100,000th tyre will be delivered – which will no doubt be another cause for celebration at the longevity of the tyre.
This competition is now closed....and the winner is...
The Dunlop judges spent nearly all Thursday night reading and discussing the many great entries, and said it was a very difficult decision. However in the end a winner emerged in the form of Mark Camilleri of Brisbane, who wrote:
Congratulations Dunlop you’re 70,000 strong,
All the V8 Supercar teams can’t go wrong,
Sure, I’m the biggest Bathurst fan,
Most of all, I’m a Dunlop Man!
Congratulations to Mark, and thank you to all for your fantastic entries.
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