Dunlop bridge at LeMans is no more.

[herr_oberst]

"This follows Goodyear's January 2025 announcement of the $701million sale of its Dunlop brand to Japanese brand Sumitomo Rubber Industries. What once seemed improbable - removing Dunlop from one of motorsport's most iconic landmarks - suddenly became inevitable."

http://www.the-race.com/endurance/iconic-dunlop-bridge-le-mans-branding-to-disappear/

[wdfifteen]

That is sad. Another icon gone.

[Noah930]

...to be replaced by the Sumitomo Bridge. It's all corporate branding these days. But it would be sad to start changing names of corners of the track (Porsche Curves, Ford Chicane), as that seems to remove some of the history of the circuit. Still, the hairpin at Monaco has been called Station, Loews, and now Fairmont, depending on what building was there at the time.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

RIP Dunlop Bridge

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Noah930

It's all corporate branding these days.

Yes, and it’s tiring. I’m surprised there isn’t more backlash against it. Does all the corporate branding help a company make better products or sell more stuff?

[astrochex]

It was corporate branding when Dunlop put its name on the bridge.

I want the bridge to still look like a tire and not be an electronic billboard.

[Zeke]

Who wants to buy the Golden Gate or Brooklyn?

[javadog]

Dunlop is still a tire brand, so why the change?

[Kraftwerk]

Originally Posted by javadog

Dunlop is still a tire brand, so why the change?

Sumitomo outbid - came up with more money.

anyway....when things are re-named, often the new names often don't stick around very long.
To me The Pan Am building is always gonna be the Pan Am building.
In a few years Dunlop may be able to buy that bridge back.

A few recent examples: The Queensboro Bridge, or " 59th Street Bridge" I didn't think I have ever heard anyone call it the Mayor Koch bridge, ever.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by Kraftwerk

Sumitomo outbid - came up with more money.

Sumitomo bought Dunlop and owns it, no? Why not continue to advertise a historic brand, as opposed to one the average punter doesn't care about?

[Kraftwerk]

Good point. I guess they want to increase brand recognition to average punters like us! That and show som 'flex' where their market is now active: Europe. If i understand correctly, they won't own the Dunlop name in India, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei FWIW

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by astrochex

It was corporate branding when Dunlop put its name on the bridge.

I want the bridge to still look like a tire and not be an electronic billboard.

Entirely correct. But somehow, that it's remained "The Dunlop Bridge" for 60-70 years has made it part of the lore of LeMans. Like the Citgo sign behind Fenway Park. Somehow, it seems a bit sacrilegious for it to be renamed after another tire brand.

[rfuerst911sc]

Maybe leave the Dunlop name but add at the end " by Sumitomo " . So it would read Dunlop by Sumitomo .

[herr_oberst]

In the article, it explains that Goodyear sold Dunlop to Sumitomo and the bridge will now be painted blue and yellow with a Goodyear logo.

[zakthor]

Not a baseball fan but ive watched enough ww2 movies to know the dodgers are from brooklyn.i was surprised a few years ago when some fool told me that the team had been moved recently.

I think if your love of sport has you emotionally attached to some corporate branding then maybe… you need to find a better sport.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by zakthor

I think if your love of sport has you emotionally attached to some corporate branding then maybe… you need to find a better sport.

I think corporate logos are as much a part of motorsports as noises and smells. I'm also not ashamed that I feel nostalgic and a little sad at the loss of a beloved icon such as the Dunlop bridge.

[rockfan4]

How many different brands has the tire bridge at Laguna Seca had? I think it is branded "Tire Rack" now, but I recall several different names on the tire.

It was originally a Dunlop bridge. List of Dunlop bridges here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunlop_Bridge