WEC: Strakka switches to Dunlop tires

The Strakka Racing LMP2 squad has switched to Dunlop tires from Michelins for next month's Le Mans 24 Hours and the remainder of the World Endurance Championship.

The British team is making the move after its Nissan-engined Strakka Dome S103 coupe was unable to match the pace of the Dunlop-shod class front-runners in the opening two rounds of the WEC at Silverstone and Spa.

"We've been looking at every opportunity we have to close the gap to the front-running P2 cars," Strakka Racing technical director Jay Davenport said. "We were the sole runners on Michelin in the WEC, and by switching to Dunlop, it takes away a key variable."

Davenport thanked Michelin, on whose tires Strakka has run since its move into the prototype ranks in 2009, for its support and pointed out that the team would be continuing the relationship through its Formula Renault 3.5 operation.

The Strakka Dome has been testing on Dunlops at Spa over the past two days with its regular line-up of Danny Watts, Jonny Kane and Nick Leventis.

"The Spa test provides a good comparison with our pace over the recent race weekend and offers a chance to optimize setup for the new tires ahead of Le Mans," explained Davenport.

The Strakka Dome finished third and seven laps down in P2 at Silverstone and sixth and five laps in arrears of the class winner at Spa.

The decision leaves the SMP, Krohn and Pegasus teams on Michelins in LMP2 at Le Mans next month. Michelin won one round of the ELMS last year with the Sebastien Loeb Racing ORECA squad, while its most recent victory in the WEC came in 2013, despite claiming the drivers' and teams' crowns with SMP Racing last season.

Originally on Autosport.com