Student team at 24h du Mans to use Yokohama tyres

ERJ staff report (DS)

Tokyo - The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. is supporting Tokai University's "Le Mans Challenge Project" in the 76th 24 Hours of Le Mans, which will be held over the weekend of June 14-15 at the Sarthe Circuit in France. This will be the first student team in the history of the race, in which it will compete in the LMP1 Class, the highest. Yokohama Rubber has a long track record in this race stretching back for more than 20 years, and based on the huge store of practical data it has accumulated it is providing Yokohama Advan racing tyres.

Under the direction of Prof. Yoshimasa Hayashi, who participated in endurance races in Japan and overseas during his time at Nissan Motor, the engine and machine research and development in the Tokai University Le Mans Challenge Project has been entirely student-led over seven years from 2001. Although it is a student team, it has created a machine comprising a modified French Courage-Oreca car, which has previously taken part in 24 Hours of Le Mans, incorporating an originally developed 4-litre V8 twin-turbo engine. In addition, the three drivers - Toshio Suzuki, Masami Kageyama, and Haruki Kurosawa - have extensive experience of competing in this race, and aim to stay the course with a full-fledged team structure

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Press release from Yokohama

Official website of 24h du Mans