Posted on December 05, 2013

BFGoodrich® Tires Provide Grip For Multiple Entries at 25 Hours of Thunderhill

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In continuing its support of grassroots racing and the constant drive for technology development, BFGoodrich Tires will support six entries in the longest endurance road race in North America, the 2013 National Auto Sport Association (NASA) US Air Force 25 Hours of Thunderhill this weekend, Dec 7-8, 2013, at Thunderhill Raceway Park in Willows, Calif.

entries from manufacturer partners Honda Performance Development and MAZDASPeeD will rely on the grip and performance of BFGoodrich g-Force R1 tire as part of the more than 80 vehicles entered. The g-Force R1 tire has driven to 34 wins and 86 total podium finishes in multiple classes throughout the racing season.

The BFGoodrich g-Force R1 tire is a DOT-legal race tire derived from decades of motorsports innovation, engineering and domination. Designed to be competition-ready with superior grip and sharp steering response, the tire outlasts the competition without "dropping off" in grip level during a race stint. Additionally, teams who have selected the g-Force R1 tire have the benefit of BFGoodrich Tires' professional technical engineering staff that BFGoodrich has supplied to Thunderhill competitors for years.

"endurance road racing has been a trademark proof point for BFGoodrich Tires since the early 1970's," said Peter Calhoun, motorsports manager for BFGoodrich Tires. "The g-Force R1 fitted used at Thunderhill will provide the teams from Honda, Mazda, and privateers the grip and performance they will need through the demands of what is the most challenging pro-am endurance race in North America."

Teams running BFGoodrich tires will be fielding vehicles in numerous classes, including both the e1 and e3 class.

Mazda North America's battle between its dealers and corporate employees in race-modified Mazda6 Skyactiv clean diesel cars features drivers Richard Fisher (The Autobarn Mazda, evanston, IL), Joel Weinberger (Continental Motors, Naperville, IL), Taz Harvey (Dublin Mazda, Tracy Mazda, Dublin/Tracy, CA), Chris Wilson (CJ Wilson Mazda, Countryside, IL), John Finger (John Finger Mazda, Greenville, SC) and Taylor Hacquard (Wolfe Mazda, Chilliwack/Surrey, BC, Canada) in cars 55 and 56. Both Fisher and Weinberger are also SCCA club racers who compete exclusively on BFGoodrich tires, while CJ Wilson Racing is a front runner in the BFGoodrich equipped Mazda MX-5 Cup series.

The Factory Guys will be in car 70, represented by Randy Miller (Mazda R&D), Ken Saward (Mazda Design), Dave Coleman (Mazda R&D), Nathan edmonds (Mazda Technical Services), Mike Allen (Mazda Motorsports) and Jason Meise (Mazda Gulf Region).

Honda Performance Development will also enter three vehicles with the two Acura ILX cars, which debuted last year at this event running directly against the Mazda's in the e1 class. Drivers will consist of associates from Honda; car No. 27 will be driven by Sage Marie (American Honda Motor Company), Lee Niffenegger (Honda Performance Development), Scott Nicols (Honda Canada Manufacturing) and Matt Staal (Honda R&D Americas, Inc.). Car No. 25 will be piloted by Calvin Liu, Lawrence Hwang and Michael Tsay (Honda R&D Americas, Inc) and Corey Taguchi (American Honda Motor Company). Meanwhile the team will also run the Honda Fit BSpec car in the e3 class.

About BFGoodrich

BFGoodrich Tires is dedicated to providing high performance tires for those who have a passion for driving in virtually any environment. Combining technical expertise with 50 years of motorsports experience, BFGoodrich delivers tires for a full range of driving experiences from ultra-high performance street to off-road terrain with one common theme – extreme performance. Come upgrade your performance with BFGoodrich and see where our tires can take you at BFGoodrichTires.com, BFGoodrichRacing.com, as well as on Facebook and Instagram at @BFGoodrichTires and TikTok at @BFGoodrich.