The famous Dunlop bridge in Le Mans will be renamed
In 2026, the Dunlop bridge at the Le Mans racing circuit, one of the iconic components of the French autodrome, will be renamed and become the Goodyear bridge (the company this year sold the rights to the Dunlop brand to the Japanese Sumitomo). This was announced by the Western Automobile Club (ACO), the organizer of the legendary "24 Hours of Le Mans" race.
The first version of the Dunlop bridge was built back in 1923, during the very first 24-hour race, so that spectators could safely walk from the stands to the food stalls. In 1928, the organizers banned advertising on the track, but in 1948, the rules changed, and the bridge was rebuilt.
Since the Dunlop bridge itself has already become an important part of the history of motorsport, ACO and Goodyear will transfer the exhibits related to it to the "24 Hours of Le Mans" Museum, in order to "preserve its historical significance for future generations".
“Le Mans is the main event of the endurance racing season and an important element of Goodyear's heritage in motorsport,” said Xavier Frepon, Goodyear's Vice President of Racing. “This year we are celebrating the 45th anniversary of the Eagle brand and 60 years since our first victory in Le Mans, and we are proud to deepen our partnership with ACO”.
During its more than century-long history, Goodyear has won 14 victories in Le Mans, as well as 368 wins in Formula 1 Grands Prix, and has also been participating in the NASCAR racing series for over 70 years. In 2023, Goodyear presented an intelligent tire condition monitoring system at the 24-hour race in collaboration with the NASCAR team, "demonstrating a commitment to introducing advanced technologies in racing".
“Le Mans is not just a race, it's a global celebration of heritage and innovation in motorsport,” noted Stephane Andriolo, Head of Customer and Event Management at ACO. “With innovations, we will confirm our desire to always provide unforgettable experiences for both fans and participants”.
Photo: 24h-lemans.com