More Dunlops Per Race Weekend?

[peckstar]

yes, dont be bloody stupid and underestimate a guy that has come third in the championship.

[GTRMagic]

I wonder whether Dunlop remains a long term player in the motorsport market... with this soon to happen

[bestfit]

The factory in question predominantly produces 12" tyres which are no longer in demand. Other factories produce the larger diameter tyres and so it is uneconomical to re-tool the factory.
I don't see this as an indicator of the impending doom of Dunlop as a whole.

[Tourer]

Yeah - given that Bridgestone, Pirelli, Michelin et al do not produce tyres in Australia but have been (and still are) players in the motorsport market, it is just plain silly to suggest that a factory closure alone might be enough to result in Dunlop not being involved.

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by Tourer

Yeah - given that Bridgestone, Pirelli, Michelin et al do not produce tyres in Australia but have been (and still are) players in the motorsport market, it is just plain silly to suggest that a factory closure alone might be enough to result in Dunlop not being involved.

Mitsubishi canned their involvement in the Ralliart ARC program on the strength of the impending closure of Tonsley Park.

It is not impossible that as a manner of saving money to fund the closure, a none to inconsiderable spend actually, that marketing funds may have to be released in the medium term to sustain viability.

[Tourer]

Maybe Mitsubishi did blame their withdrawal on the Tonsley Park closure (never saw that statement but not disputing it) but SPT have closed at least two other factories in Victoria in recent years and at the time (and since) have INCREASED their investment and involvement in racing.

It may be that SPT do less in motorsport, it may be that they do more as we go forward.

Regardless, the closure of one factory is not going to be the cause either way. Given the number of car companies that have closed factories all around the world (including Holden & Ford here) but are still heavily committed to motorsport it is silly to suggest that a factory closure alone could result in no involvement in motorsport going forward.