Goodyear to supply electric touring-car racing series ETCR

PARIS—Goodyear has landed the tire supply contract for a new touring-car-based electric-vehicle racing series that's being organized by Eurosport Events, the promoter of the FIA World Touring Car Cup and other motorsports series.

The new series, dubbed Pure ETCR, will take wing in 2021 after four demonstration events in 2020. The series will invite car makers to participate with race-prepped small touring cars that initially will use a standard electric motor/battery combination—rated at 500 kW (670 hp)—connected to a rear-wheel-drive chassis layout.

Goodyear said it is developing a treaded race tire for Pure ETCR that will incorporate technologies used in the tire maker's latest electric vehicle tires and its Eagle F1 SuperSport ultra-high-performance range.

The definitive tire specification—using a "proven" motorsport construction with a treaded design—will be unveiled in spring 2021, ahead of the first Pure ETCR event, Eurosport Events said.

Having a treaded tire design means Pure ETCR drivers can use the same tires in wet and dry conditions, reducing the number of tires needed per event. This aligns with Goodyear's and Pure ETCR's mission of working together to find sustainable solutions for the future of mobility and motorsport.

It also mirrors the philosophy Michelin and the FIA espouse for Formula-e, the single-seat, open-wheel formula car-based electric racing series that debuted in 2014.

Mike Rytokoski, vice president and chief marketing officer for Goodyear Europe, said this partnership with Pure ETCR is "much more than just supplying race tires. Together, we will use racing to develop technology to thrill the next generation of high-performance driver."

Rytokoski pointed out that Goodyear considers itself a leader in electric vehicle tire development, which has to take into account that EVs are heavier and have more torque. Tires developed for EVs have to cope with instant power delivery while also delivering high grip/traction as well as low rolling resistance to increase range and efficiency.

Securing this contract—and becoming a "founding partner of Pure ETCR—is a further step in the return of the Goodyear brand to the international motorsports scene, which began last summer.

The company now has secured tire supply deals with the FIA World Endurance Championship, European LeMans Series, FIA World Touring Car Cup and British Touring Car Championship.

The new EV series will feature bracket-style, short-sprint elimination racing that commit drivers to pushing their car to its limits with no need for energy-saving tactics, the organizers said.

It also will challenge Goodyear to design tires that have rapid warm-up times, so drivers can go flat out from the very beginning of a race.

The organizers envision having two entries from each manufacturer/vehicle brand. To date, only two car companies—Hyundai Motor Co. and Volkswagen A.G.'s SEAT brand/division—have committed to the series.

The trial race events in 2020 are set for courses Austria, Denmark, South Korea and China, according to Eurosport Events, which also is planning a demonstration event in January 2021 in Daytona, Fla., in conjunction with the 24 Hours of Daytona.