Mik Whiting from Derbyshire in the UK has won the 2011 Dunlop Livery Competition, which looks for designs from around Europe to adorn the Dunlop sponsored JMW Motorsport Ferrari F458 Italia team car.

Mik and two other finalists were at Le Mans today to officially launch the colour scheme under the iconic Dunlop Bridge at the track where the world’s most famous 24 hour race starts on Saturday afternoon, complete with the prize winning livery on the Dunlop car.

Mik’s entry was chosen from over 250 entries received from throughout Europe. The public elected finalist designs by voting on-line at www.livery-competition. dunlop.eu and an expert Dunlop jury picked the final winner’s design which they felt best expressed Dunlop’s ‘Feel the Road’ brand concept, was recognizable as a Dunlop car and had the ability to stand out on track.

The jury comprised: Sanjay Khanna (MD, Goodyear Dunlop) Jean-Felix Bazelin (General Manager, Dunlop Motorsport) Jim McWhirter (Principle, JMW Motorsports) Fabrice Bourrigaud (Marketing & Communications Manager, ACO)

The winning designer describes himself as a complete ‘petrol-head’. Mik’s dream trip was won by highlighting the Britishness in the team, drivers and Dunlop heritage, and using the colours and ‘Flying D’ that epitomise Dunlop in a design that’s eye-catching and instantly recognisable as a Dunlop car.

JMW Motorsport isn’t the only car wearing Dunlops; three LMP1 contenders, a mighty seven on LMP2 with six in the GTE classes will also take to the track. Dunlop’s hopes for victory include 2010 LMP2 winners of Le Mans 24 Hours, Intercontinental Le Mans Cup and LMS Green X Challenge Oak Racing, which also has entries in LMP1, and 2010 Le Mans Series winners RML. In GTE, the works BMW Motorsport (Schnitzer) team is also running on Dunlop tyres in competition to the JMW Ferrari.