Pirelli, Goodyear ink sedan racing series contracts in Canada, Europe

AKRON — Pirelli Tire North America and Goodyear have secured race tire supply contracts with new racing series in North America and Europe, respectively.

Pirelli's 3-year contract is with Nissan Canada Inc. and JD Promotion & Competition for the Nissan Sentra Cup, a Canadian racing series debuting in 2021 that will complement and ultimately replace the Nissan Micra Cup that Pirelli has supplied since 2015.

The new series features competition-prepped versions of the Nissan Sentra "S" base model with the 6-speed manual transmission. Modifications to the stock Sentra include: adjustable coil-over racing suspension; Nissan performance four-pot front brake calipers with 355mm x 32mm rotors; stainless steel braided brake lines; an adjustable front anti-roll bar; and racing steering wheel with quick-release steering hub.

The Sentra Cup race car will use the Sentra's stock 16-valve, 2-liter 4-cylinder engine and transmission.

Pirelli will supply the series with PZero slick race tires, size 265/645/18. Pirelli said these tires are designed to maximize the dimensions of the contact area, while its belt geometries and materials have been developed to optimize the lateral force generated in cornering on the racetrack.

Motorsports In Action, a racing shop based in St. Eustache, Quebec, is handling the development and modification of the Sentras for this competition.

The series is set for a dozen races this year held on six race weekends starting in May and wrapping up in September.

In Europe, Goodyear is working with BMW A.G. for the German car maker's BMW M2 Cup, a new platform for up-and-coming talent that will be featured at support races at DTM German Touring Car events.

The BMW M2 Cup — which features competition-prepped versions of the two-door, rear-wheel-drive coupe — is designed to allow rookies from junior racing series and karting to move up the racing ladder,

BMW, in partnership with German sports promoter Tolimit G.m.b.H., will prepare and maintain the series' cars and will assign them randomly to drivers each new racing weekend.

Goodyear will supply the series with slick and rain tires in size 265/660 R18. The series plans to run six race weekends at tracks in Austria, Germany and the Netherlands.

Jörg Michaelis, Tolimit's project manager for the M2 Cup, called Goodyear a "reliable partner who not only qualitatively meets the demands of a one-make cup, but also fully supports the promotion concept."

Thomas Felbermair, vice president sales and marketing, BMW M G.m.b.H, said Goodyear will be a "partner who, on the one hand, fully supports the focus on driver development and, on the other hand, has decades of expertise in motorsport and tire development."

This new deal dovetails with Goodyear's renewed emphasis on road racing and builds on its experience with the M2 Cup's predecessor series, which Goodyear also was involved in.