Bridgestone uses Widest Tyre Compound Gap at German Grand Prix
The German Grand Prix had an exciting, rain-affected first practice session, with strong Championship contender Lewis Hamilton smashing his McLaren into a tyre wall at turn three. Meanwhile, the on-track intrigue this weekend would be escalated further by tactical decisions made as a result of Bridgestone’s decision to bring its super-soft and hard compounds to Hockenheim, should the rain stop long enough for their use.
Representing the widest gap possible in performance characteristics, the tyres should, according to Bridgestone director of Motorsport Tyre Development Hirohide Hamashima, “provide a challenge for everyone and should be interesting.”
“The weather will play a factor too,” he continued. “If it is hot then the super soft will be a challenge to manage for stability and durability. If it is cold then ensuring the hard is in its temperature operating window will be a tough task.”
Hiroshi Yasukawa, director of Bridgestone Motorsport, explained the importance of such a high-profile event in the country: “Germany is one of the biggest and most important automotive markets in Europe, so it is imperative that Bridgestone has a strong presence here. It is interesting for us to alternate between races at Nurburgring and Hockenheim. Our local market works hard in Germany and our tyres have received many accolades in this market. We have recently seen a significant increase in the television audience figures as there are several German drivers this year, and of course the return of Michael Schumacher has had a positive impact.”
“I am also interested to see the effects of bringing the hard and super soft compounds to this race,” he concluded.
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