Goodyear Racing Notes – WEC 24 Hours of Le Mans

Goodyear returns to the 24 Hours of Le Mans this weekend with its largest-ever endurance racing operation, where 44 cars across the LMGT3 and LMP2 categories prepare to tackle one of the world’s most prestigious endurance races on Goodyear Racing Eagle tires.

At Le Mans, all 25 LMGT3 cars will run the proven Goodyear Racing Eagle Medium compound alongside an Eagle wet-weather tire designed to deliver maximum performance across the full range of conditions the Circuit de la Sarthe can produce over 24 hours.

For the 19 LMP2 teams entered, featuring elite outfits from endurance racing series such as the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) as well as equivalent championships in North America and Asia, competitors will have access to Goodyear Racing’s latest Eagle Medium slick specification. This tire was first introduced at last season’s 4 Hours of Le Castellet and made its impressive debut at the Circuit de la Sarthe the following month.

Across both intensely competitive categories, Goodyear expects tire performance and longevity to once again play a crucial role in determining race strategies, with some drivers likely to be able to complete up to four consecutive stints on a single set of its slick tires. That is enough distance to cover the equivalent of two Formula 1 Grands Prix races.

Le Mans regulations prevent any driver from racing for more than four hours continuously, which for LMGT3 and LMP2 competitors usually equates to up to 44 laps or 600 kilometres of running. In dry conditions during last year’s event, teams in both categories managed to complete stints exceeding that distance - matching the maximum permitted driving time - on a single set of tires. This longevity is at the heart of Goodyear’s endurance racing strategy, providing tires that maintain their performance level over an extended period of time.

“Le Mans presents challenges unlike anything else in endurance racing because conditions constantly change across the 24 hours,” said Stephen Bickley, Goodyear Endurance Programme Manager. “Teams often face huge swings in track and ambient temperatures between day and night, while safety cars and slow zones can cool tires before drivers are thrown straight back into racing speeds.

“Our Goodyear Racing Eagle Medium compounds have been developed to have a very wide operating window, giving drivers of varying ability levels confidence throughout the race and across changing conditions. This year we could see teams running up to four consecutive stints on a single set of tires, meaning our tires will be able to last longer than the regulations allow drivers to stay in the car.”

Supplying nearly three-quarters of the Le Mans grid demands Goodyear’s largest ever endurance racing operation. In total, Goodyear will bring more than 7,000 tires to the circuit, backed by more than 100 experts including tire fitters, engineers, technical support personnel and marketing staff. Each team is assigned a dedicated Goodyear track support engineer throughout the event for tire preparation, setup direction, and strategy and performance analysis.

The iconic Goodyear Blimp will also soar over the Circuit de la Sarthe, offering invited guests, media and partners the opportunity to experience the Le Mans spectacle from above. At ground level, Goodyear’s fan zone will immerse thousands of spectators in the brand’s racing world, with prizes, merchandise and experiences that showcase how Goodyear’s racing programmes contribute to the development of its ultra ultra high performance Eagle tire range.

Bickley adds: “Goodyear is proud to be an intrinsic part of one of motorsport’s true jewels in the crown. We always aim to put on a show for fans both on and off-track, and the extreme challenges of Le Mans provide a true opportunity for Goodyear to demonstrate its technology and expertise to a global audience.”

Across the Atlantic, Goodyear Racing Eagle tires are also in action this weekend in the NASCAR races at Pocono Raceway, and in the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.

Fast Facts
FIA World Endurance Championship
Race: 24 Hours of Le Mans
Track: Circuit de la Sarthe (13.63 km: 18 left turns, 20 right turns)
Location: Le Mans, France Date/Time: Saturday, June 13, 16:00 CEST TV/Radio: FIAWEC+ (global), Eurosport (pan-Europe), HBO MAX (USA)

LMGT3
Tire: Goodyear Racing Eagle
Tire Specification: Eagle Medium
Previous usage: Imola, Spa (2026); Qatar, Imola, Spa, Le Mans, Fuji (2025); all FIA WEC rounds (2024)
Tire Measurements: (width mm / diameter mm / rim size in): 300/680/R18 front, 310/710/R18 rear Total Dry Weather Tires: 100 (28 free practice and qualifying / 12 H1 and H2 / 60 race)
Total Wet Weather Tires: No limit

LMP2
Tire: Goodyear Racing Eagle
Tire Specification: Eagle Medium
Previous usage: Le Mans (2025); all ELMS races since Le Castellet 2025
Tire Measurements: (width mm / diameter mm / rim size in): 300/680/R18 front, 310/710/R18 rear Total Dry Weather Tires: 92 (24 free practice and qualifying / 12 H1 and H2 / 56 race)
Total Wet Weather Tires: No limit

About The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs about 68,000 people and manufactures its products in 53 facilities in 20 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.

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