Dunlop WEC teams back in race action in the Americas following summer break

• Mid-season testing looked ahead to 2018 tyre range
• Tyre choice will maximise strategies in hot conditions
• Jackie Chan DC Racing holds strong lead in LMP2 championship
• Hopes for repeat of Aston GTE Pro wins in both races
• Dunlop teams looking to top the GTE Am table

While many were taking advantage of the summer break, Dunlop conducted a tyre test in the USA focussed on 2018 sportscar tyre specifications. The findings will help Dunlop designers refine the designs before track testing resumes after the current season.

Central and North America host the next two rounds in the FIA World Endurance Championship - rounds five and six out of nine. Both events have the potential to be among the hottest on the calendar.

6 Hours of Mexico – Sunday 3rd September (12:00 local time/18:00 BST/19:00 CEST)

The 6 Hours of Mexico returns to Mexico City’s Hermanos Rodriguez circuit. 2016 saw a close battle in LMP2 with the local RGR Sport squad winning from the #36 Signatech Alpine by only 1.9 seconds, in a race that saw showers and the Dunlop intermediate tyre come into play. In the GTE Pro race it was the #97 Aston Martin that won the day with the sister #95 car finishing third to make it a double Dunlop podium.

6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas – Saturday 16th September (12:00 local time/18:00 BST/19:00 CEST)

After a move north to Texas, USA, the teams will take the green flag for six hours of racing at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). Signatech Alpine and the #95 Aston Martin Vantage were both Dunlop winners at the track in 2016

Tyre choices

For LMP2, Dunlop is nominating the soft and medium-plus compounds. The wide operating windows give the broadest strategy options for the teams. For the GT cars the tyre allocation will be decided closer to the event depending on prevailing track and weather conditions.

LMP2 Championship

Jackie Chan DC Racing currently leads the series following the #38 car’s Silverstone, Le Mans and Nürburgring victories. The #31 Vaillante Rebellion is next in the standings, 46 points behind with a maximum of 26 points available per event.

GTE Championships

Dunlop highlights in the GTE standings include the Aston Martin Pro teams’ points hauls from Le Mans with the #98 car now fourth and just 15 points from the leader. In the GTE Am class, both the Dempsey Proton Racing Porsche and Aston Martin #98 Vantage have finished on all four podiums, taking a win each at Nürburgring and Spa respectively to lie second and third in the championship and in easy reach of the leader.

Entry list including Dunlop teams for the Mexico round can be found here​​. The COTA entry list will be available at fiawec.com​ when published.