Goodyear Racing Notes – BTCC Snetterton

Goodyear returns to Snetterton for the third event of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season this weekend, where the track’s long, complex ‘300’ layout and fast straights will require teams to carefully balance traction and precision.

This weekend, each driver will be allocated three sets of the Goodyear Racing Eagle Soft compound as the standard tyre, and one set of the Goodyear Racing Eagle Medium compound as the option tyre.

Teams may also choose to carry over up to two sets of either the Eagle Soft or Eagle Medium compounds from Brands Hatch Indy or Donington Park. As well as the slick tyres used in dry conditions, teams also have access to Goodyear Racing Eagle Wet tyres, designed to disperse surface water and provide grip in wet racing conditions.

The Snetterton circuit boasts two of the longest straights in the country and a technical infield section that requires heavy braking, causing faster heat generation and stress on tyres that will call for teams to think carefully about how to use their tyre allocations. 

The turns themselves are varied, from the harsh braking in the Montreal hairpin turn to the high-commitment, long, sweeping turn of Coram causing sustained load on the tyres. Unlike last year, teams will not have access to the Eagle Hard compound at Snetterton, so will need to adapt their approaches and possibly make use of some of their carryover tyres.

“Snetterton is the longest track on the BTCC calendar and follows Brands Hatch Indy, the shortest track of the season, so we can expect to see a different racing style this weekend,” said Michael Butler, Goodyear’s BTCC event leader. “The longer lap grants drivers more opportunities for strategic positioning and slipstreaming along the straights, and the tyre allocations for this race have been intentionally selected to encourage close racing.

“Last season, we offered the Eagle Hard compound as the option tyre, but this weekend, teams will not have access to this compound. The aim is to reduce lap time deltas between cars and help keep the racing as close as possible. Teams will also have the option to use carryover tyres from previous rounds, adding another layer of strategy. We expect most teams to bring forward one set of Eagle Softs and one set of Eagle Mediums this weekend.”

Across the Atlantic, Goodyear Racing Eagle tyres are also in action this weekend in the NASCAR races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Fast Facts
Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship
Race: Rounds 7, 8, and 9
Track: Snetterton Circuit (2.97 miles: 5 left turns, 7 right turns)
Location: Norfolk, England
Date/Time: Sunday May 24, 11:30 BST (R1) / 14:30 BST (R2) / 17:20 BST (R3)
TV/Radio: ITV4, BTCC YouTube channel, Racer Network (US)

Tyre: Goodyear Racing Eagle
Tyre Specification: Eagle Soft (standard) / Eagle Medium (option) 
Previous usage: Eagle Medium (standard) / Eagle Soft (option) at Donington Park National; Eagle Soft (standard) / Eagle Medium (option) at Brands Hatch Indy
Tyre Measurements: (width mm / diameter mm / rim size in): 265/660R18 (front and rear)
Total Dry Weather Tyres: 24 (12 Eagle Soft / 4 Eagle Medium / 8 carryover)
Total Wet Weather Tyres: No limit