December 09, 2024

“TGR TEAM au TOM'S (drivers: Tsuboi Sho, Yamashita Kenta)” supported by Bridgestone Co., Ltd. with “POTENZA” brand tires won the series championship in the GT500 class of the highest four-wheel race “2024 AUTOBACS SUPER GT” in Japan. It will be 9 consecutive years since 2016 that teams equipped with Bridgestone tires will win the series championship in the GT500 class of SUPER GT.

“TGR TEAM au TOM'S” vehicle and driver

For Bridgestone, motor sports is the “origin” of a tire manufacturer. With sustainability at the core, we are challenging sustainable global motor sports activities using racing as a “driving laboratory” based on the new message “Passion to Turn the World (Passion to Change the World),” which includes the passion to “challenge the extreme” and accelerate innovation while enjoying racing and the passion to support a sustainable mobility society with friends.

When developing tires for the SUPER GT, Bridgestone is accelerating technological innovation by bringing together material development and structural development knowledge that Bridgestone has cultivated over a long period of time since entering the race. As one of these efforts, we are pursuing optimal ground contact by utilizing Bridgestone's unique measurement technology “ULTIMAT EYE” (Ultimate Eye) *1, which visualizes the ground surface of a tire, and by specially designing the tread compound and tire shape/structure, we are taking on the challenge of achieving tire performance required in extreme racing conditions at a high level. This season, too, we brought out the best performance of vehicles and drivers, and contributed to winning the “TGR TEAM au TOM'S” series championship through the development and supply of tires that can respond to the team's racing strategy in every situation on the circuit. Furthermore, going forward, we will continue to take on the challenge of developing sustainable motor sports tires in order to promote and realize the sustainable motor sports that SUPER GT aims for.

■ Comment from “TGR TEAM au TOM'S” coach Daisuke Ito
The number of friends on the Bridgestone support team increased this year, and it was a season where I felt strongly that I wanted to take 1st place and win consecutive championships among them. Although they won the season opener and were able to decide on a good start dash, difficult developments continued after that due to success weights. Furthermore, regulations have changed since this season, and there were situations where tire selection was difficult, but by selecting appropriate tires while predicting race developments for each race together with Bridgestone engineers, we were able to win 3 wins this season and win the championship for 2 consecutive years.
The SUPER GT is by no means an easy race, but I'm not satisfied with the current results, and I would like to develop tires that can win next season with Bridgestone once we get this far, and aim for the 3rd consecutive title.

■Comment from Bridgestone Global Motor Sports Operations Division Manager Tatsuya Uchida
Congratulations to the “TGR TEAM au TOM'S” team and everyone involved for winning the GT500 class series championship. I am very happy that we were able to win the “TGR TEAM au TOM'S” series championship and contribute to the success of many teams that have worn our tires through the supply of tires in the extreme race called SUPER GT. Also, I would like to thank all the motorsports fans who supported us and the team that helped develop the tires, and sincerely congratulate everyone involved, including GTA, the organizer of SUPER GT, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Bridgestone hopes to develop and supply “by far the best” *2 race tires next season, and contribute to the support team winning the series championship as a member of the team.

By contributing to the development of safe, secure, and enjoyable car culture and motor sports culture through the “best product” of the sports tire brand “POTENZA” and sustainable global motor sports activities, Bridgestone is committed to “supporting the emotional emotional mobility experience” set forth in the corporate commitment “Bridgestone E8 Commitment"*3, and even 10 and 20 years from now” We will continue to provide “running exciting”.

＜Bridgestone Motorsports Website＞

1. *1 “ULTIMAT EYE” technology that “sees” the ground surface of a tire
2. *2 “By far” refers to the goals of a company.
3. *3 “Bridgestone E8 Commitment (Bridgestone E8 Commitment)”
   Bridgestone has established the corporate commitment “Bridgestone E8 Commitment” to realize its vision of “becoming a company that continuously provides social value and customer value as a sustainable solution company in 2050.” Using this as the axis for advancing management while gaining trust from the future, we are committed to supporting a sustainable society by creating the eight values (Energy, Ecology, Efficiency, Extension, Economy, Emotion, Ease, Ease, and Satisfaction) starting with “E” typical of Bridgestone, with goals and means typical of Bridgestone, together with employees, society, partners, and customers.

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