As the most successful tyre manufacturer of all time in the FIM Endurance World Championship, Dunlop are backing a new initiative to bring new privateer and dealer teams into the championship.
In conjunction with Eurosport Events, the two parties have ambitious plans to grow the championship, and the introduction of the EWC Dunlop Independent Trophy and subsequent prize money form a big part of those plans.
François Ribeiro, Head for Eurosport Events stated:
“Privateers have always been part of the motorbike endurance DNA. To encourage teams which do not benefit from direct support from bike manufacturers, Eurosport Events, local event promoters and Dunlop are launching the EWC Dunlop Independent Trophy“
“10 months after we became FIM EWC promoter, we are putting in place what looks very important to the championship: allocating support to teams who need it most, privateer teams. Without them, top teams would not shine, privateers are part of endurance DNA. Together with each EWC event promoter and Dunlop, we decided to centralize and focus our team support onto a new trophy dedicated to private teams: the EWC Dunlop Independent Trophy“ added Riberio.
Any private team can register, as long as EWC judge there is no bike manufacturer support behind the team. Throughout the FIM EWC 2016 season, 300 000 € prize money will be allocated to teams registered to the “EWC Dunlop Independent Trophy”.
Xavier Fraipont, Managing Director, Dunlop Moto and Motorsport Europe followed up by saying:
“The FIM Endurance World Championship has been a successful proving ground for Dunlop Moto technology, with ten Endurance World Championship titles from the last twelve being won on Dunlop. Therefore, Independent Trophy teams can be confident that they are getting the support from the most experienced tyre company in endurance racing.
We are excited about Eurosport’s plans for expanding and promoting the championship, and believe the EWC Dunlop Independent Trophy will be a very attractive proposition for privateer and dealer teams wanting to compete on the world stage.”
In 2015, Dunlop and SERT claimed their 10th joint EWC title in 16 years, and although the privateer teams may not necessarily challenge their dominance of the event in recent times, they will certainly add something interesting to the mix!
