Bridgestone has re-entered national motorsport as tyre supplier and title partner of the just-started Toyota GR86 Championship.

MORE than just a new car took to Taupo’s motor racing circuit when the Toyota GR86 championship began on the weekend of November 23-24 - it was also a national baptism for a brand-new tyre.

Impetus for Bridgestone becoming title sponsor and supplier for the six-round 2024-25 championship, and forthcoming Toyota 86 Trophy series, is that those series, respectively for the latest and previous generations of this two-seater sports car, will run on the Potenza RE-71RS semi-slick tyre. 

Bridgestone’s return to premier motorsport in New Zealand complements the company’s global motorsport portfolio, which also includes GR86/BRZ Cup in Japan, Super GT Series, Bridgestone World Solar Challenge and America’s Indycar.

Toyota New Zealand was impressed with how well the tyre performed in testing, but the ultimate pass-or-fail trial was the highly technical and famously abrasive Taupo circuit.

That’s where MotoringNZ met Bridgestone NZ head of sales Jeremy Mackintosh (above), who explained why the championship is the ideal platform to promote Bridgestone’s range of premium tyres and also unwrapped the story behind the selection process.

MotoringNZ: What’s the challenge when you are asked to provision a tyre that has to meet every racing condition and also be road-legal?

Jeremy Mackintosh: “We certainly piggybacked off our Japan colleagues on that one, we've been supplying tyres for the 86/BRZ Championship in Japan since at least 2017, previously the RE-71R, and now this RE-71RS. 

“It was already a proven product that they had in the motor racing scene. So it was a bit of a no brainer for us just basically going with what was proven already and that made it simple for us really.”

MotoringNZ: So you knew its merits, but of course then you've got to think, ‘well just because it works well in Japan, will it work in New Zealand?’

JM: No, no really. We knew it would the right tyre.

MotoringNZ: Did Bridgestone NZ have an active role in the testing phase or did have to await the outcome of Toyota’s analysis?

JM: “We weren’t involved or present during that, but obviously they gave us feedback. They were satisfied with the performance so we continued the exploration of a partnership.”

MotoringNZ: So the car maker has signed off, but I guess you will be keen to hear competitor feedback as the series progresses?

JM:  “Absolutely. And we've already heard positive feedback from the very first day at Taupo, with talk of the tyres being three or four seconds a lap quicker than its predecessor. That’s a very positive start for us.”

MotoringNZ: Bridgestone’s previous involvement in New Zealand motorsport was the Porsche series, more than 10 years ago. Did any of that experience inform what you are doing now?

JM: “Not really. That was something we haven’t been a part of since the 2011/12 season and they were also running a slick then, so a different product. 

“There's obviously been some new products in the market since that relationship as well, so there's not strong parallels between them. So really this was almost kick start to motorsport involvement again.”

MotoringNZ: So part of the leverage of this support is because will become an off-the-shelf item as well. Does the old adage about motorsport selling cars also apply to tyres?

JM: “Yeah, very much so. We have a strong ‘circuit to street’ credo. Plus, GR86 series has got a following in the general public as well. It's a street legal vehicle and the performance of the product in the race circumstances is obviously to be of interest to enthusiasts. That's where we see the opportunity.”

MotoringNZ: Whenever there’s a one-make series, ultimate advantage comes in a myriad of ways; there’s a lot of zeroing in on tyre pressure. Any tips on that from the brand? 

JM: Well, there’s obviously obviously a window in which they work and we’ve given information to Toyota, but part of the brief when they went to the tyre process was it adds an element of challenge. 

“It's a control category, so everyone should have the same, it should be a level playing field. Toyota distributes that information to the teams, but I think they're keen to see people experiment, try out different things.”

MotoringNZ: It’s a relatively short season, but will be all-out and, of course, it’s possible some teams might prefer to run worn rubber over fresh, or vice versa. Does that mean you might have to keep a big stockpile in hand?

JM: So within the regulations of the series, they get a new set per round and they also have a bank of test tires that they can use as well. 

“Longevity is part of it … but it also comes down to how they manage the tyre through the weekend. ‘Do we push hard in race one, do we save for race three’?

“I think you'll see some interesting tyre management across the season as well. The feedback we've had is that the drivers discovered it's quite a ‘peaky’ tire, so it comes on really strong early and then levels off in terms of performance for a bit. 

“But what the drivers have also found is that it then gives you a second life. So it's still early days. Over the next few rounds they'll develop their own little tyre management and pressures and tips and tricks. Some of the bigger teams will be trying different things on different cars and sharing notes. It’s all quite exciting.”

MotoringNZ; What are the benefits to Bridgestone New Zealand of being involved in motorsport?

JM: “I think it goes back to our DNA. We’ve had a long history of being involved and, yes, though we have locally had a short period of time out, this has been a great opportunity for us to step back in.

“It’s great to be with Toyota. We see some real synergies in our brands and long-term partnerships that we've held previously. We see the GR 86 series as a gateway to other platforms in the global stage and being part of that, call it grassroots if you like, makes us really happy.”

The writer attended the opening round of the GR86 Championship at Taupo International Motorsport Park as a guest of Bridgestone, with accommodation and meals provided.