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BridgestoneBridgestone has announced the development of exclusive Potenza Race semi-slick tyres for the new Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport, launched to celebrate the iconic model’s 50th anniversary. The Golf GTI Clubsport is the most powerful iteration of the GTI range and recently set an impressive front-wheel drive lap record at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, fitted with these specially engineered tyres.
The bespoke Potenza Race tyres were designed in close collaboration between Bridgestone and Volkswagen to perfectly complement the Clubsport’s advanced chassis, steering, and performance tuning. Developed using Bridgestone’s cutting-edge virtual tyre development technology, the tyres provide maximum dry grip, precise cornering stability, and superior braking performance – all critical factors for achieving record-breaking lap times.
The Potenza Race is Bridgestone’s premium semi-slick track tyre homologated for road use. It combines the brand’s racing heritage with advanced compound and tread technologies to deliver optimal performance on track days while ensuring safety and compliance for everyday driving.
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Developed at Bridgestone’s European R&D centre and produced at its Poznan plant in Poland, the Potenza Race tyres were engineered to match the dynamic characteristics of the Golf GTI Clubsport. The tyres underwent extensive testing and optimisation to meet Volkswagen’s performance requirements, enhancing the Clubsport’s agility, steering response, and lap time capabilities.
Bridgestone highlighted that its virtual tyre development reduced physical prototyping and testing by up to 60%, accelerating the development process while reducing raw material usage and CO₂ emissions. This technology allowed precise simulation of tyre behaviour under various driving conditions, ensuring optimal design before physical production.
A spokesperson for Bridgestone commented:
“We are proud to support Volkswagen in celebrating 50 years of the Golf GTI with our bespoke Potenza Race tyres. This collaboration reflects Bridgestone’s capability to deliver tailored high-performance solutions that push the limits of driving dynamics while supporting sustainability targets.”
The Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport, featuring these Potenza Race tyres, achieved a record lap time of 7:47.31 minutes at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, underscoring the tyres’ ability to translate advanced engineering into real-world performance gains.
The Potenza Race range was launched in 2022 and has since become Bridgestone’s flagship semi-slick tyre for drivers seeking ultimate track performance with road legality. Its design includes an asymmetric tread pattern optimised for cornering stability, a motorsport-inspired compound for superior dry grip, and construction technologies that ensure precision handling under extreme lateral loads.
This latest partnership strengthens Bridgestone’s position as a leader in ultra high performance and motorsport-derived tyres, supporting manufacturers in developing special edition models that require the highest standards of tyre performance and safety.