Tokyo-The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. today announced that it will support four teams in the 72nd 24 Hours of Le Mans, to be held over the June 12-June 13 weekend at the Sarthe Circuit in France. This is Yokohama Rubber's 21st year of active involvement at Le Mans.

The company will support ADVAN KONDO Racing in the LMP1 Class, and Choroq Racing, Seikel Motorsport, and Morgan Works Race Team in the LM-GT Class. ADVAN KONDO Racing will use specially-developed Yokohama racing tires, and the other three teams will be provided with tires based on the tires used in the Japan GT Championship, specially modified for Le Mans to enhance wear resistance. Team ADVAN's Manabu Orido will be one of the drivers for Choroq Racing at this year's Le Mans.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans has a long and distinguished tradition beginning in 1923. It ranks alongside the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps and the 24 Hours of Daytona as one of the world's premier endurance races. Every year, roughly 50 cars compete in two categories, the Prototype Class (LMP1/LMP2) for cars that are specially designed for racing, and the Grand Touring (GT) Class (LM-GTS/LM-GT) for production-based cars.

Last year, Yokohama Rubber supported four teams at Le Mans, ADVAN KONDO Racing, Team Taisan ADVAN, Seikel Motorsport and ACEMCO (RISI COMPETIZIONE/USA). In the LMP900 Class (the equivalent of this year's LMP1 Class), ADVAN KONDO Racing completed the race, placing 13th overall in the team's first attempt at Le Mans. In the LM-GT Class, Team Taisan ADVAN placed 4th in its class, the fourth year in succession that an entry using Yokohama tires has placed among the leaders in this class.

#9 ADVAN KONDO S101 with (from left to right) team director Masahiko Kondo and drivers Hiroki Kato, Ryo Michigami and Hayanari Shimoda

#77 Choroq Racing / Porsche 911 GT3 RSR

#83 Seikel Motorsport / Porsche 911 GT3 RS

#80 Morgan Works Race Team / Morgan Aero 8

Yokohama Tire-Mounted Car List for Le Mans