With the chassis and powertrain tender process over for the next generation of LMP2 cars beginning in 2028, Goodyear’s plans for the new-look formula are also beginning to take shape.
The American tyre constructor, which recently debuted an updated slick LMP2 tyre at the European Le Mans Series round at Paul Ricard in May, remains fully committed to the formula in the new era. With the contract already in place for the LMP2 classes in the ELMS and Le Mans from 2028, work has started on new product.
Crucially, the new range will not be an evolution of the current LMP2 specification. Instead, Goodyear’s tyre engineers have started work from a “blank sheet of paper”, according to its head of endurance racing, Mike McGregor.
“This will be a new thing, as we need to take a look at what technology we can bring and what we can do with that product,” McGregor told DSC.
“The big thing that we’re all conscious of, and what we’re pushing towards, is the sustainability window. You know, we started GT3 already at 33 per cent sustainable materials, and with LMP2 we are looking to take big strides in the new era for that too, as we need to carry on that messaging as we put together a path forward.”
That’s not to say that its new LMP2 slick tyre for 2025 hasn’t achieved its goals. Initial feedback has been overwhelmingly positive for the new specification, which will be in use at every ELMS race and Le Mans until the current formula reaches its end game.
“The new tyre we debuted at Paul Ricard has been a huge success, we’ve seen that already from the races at Le Castellet and at Le Mans,” McGregor continued.
“The performance levels seen were about the same, but that was always expected. This new tyre is about durability, and we’ve seen gains already. Teams were able to comfortably quad-stint both sides at Le Mans during the race, and overall, we experienced the fewest deflations we’ve ever seen at the event, which was impressive considering how long the race ran green.”
Looking further ahead, Goodyear, it seems, has wider ambitions at the top end of the motorsport tree beyond its presence in NASCAR, the British Touring Car Championship, and racing on the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
DSC understands that it looks likely to add the Legends of Le Mans series (featuring LMP1, LMP2 and GTE cars) to its portfolio of contracts for LMGT3 (FIA WEC and ELMS) and LMP2 (ELMS) in 2026. And there is little doubt that, with the rapid growth in the FIA WEC’s Hypercar class, it also holds interest in the next (post-2029) tender.
There will undoubtedly be stiff competition from Michelin, which currently equips both Hypercar and IMSA’s sister GTP class and has just launched a new product range for 2026. Performance, consistency, longevity and, increasingly, sustainability, look set to be the battlegrounds in the marketplace on and off track.
“We’ve had a change in our global lead team last year,” McGregor explained when asked about Goodyear’s future ambitions.
“Mark Stewart has come on board as our CEO, and Will Roland has taken the role of CMO. That team has said to us: ‘We want to be number one in tyres and service, and we will do what it takes to get there. ’
“So I would say, right now, I’m not saying we’re committed to being there, or that we want to be there, but we’re evaluating everything, every championship that’s out there.
“Goodyear is the only tyre manufacturer ever to have won the quad in one year, with the Daytona 500, Monaco Grand Prix, Indy 500 and Le Mans 24 Hours. And we’re at the 60th anniversary of our first Le Mans win this year.
“I think anyone would be stupid to think that we’re not looking at everything all of the time.”
