Hundreds of thousands of fans at the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be able to see the Goodyear Blimp in the skies above next weekend’s race as part of a special 100th anniversary tour for the iconic airship.
The Goodyear Blimp has a storied history as a familiar sight at major racing, sporting and cultural events on both sides of the Atlantic. This year, Goodyear celebrates 100 years of its most famous ambassador, with a packed schedule of appearances that includes the tyre brand’s biggest ever 24 Hours of Le Mans.
It is the sixth consecutive year that the Goodyear Blimp will fly over Circuit de la Sarthe, offering not just a unique spectacle for the huge number of fans watching trackside but for guests and VIPs, a unique viewpoint of the race from above the action.
Goodyear has been experimenting with lighter-than-air aircraft since 1910 but the first Blimp, Pilgrim, took to the skies in 1925. Since then, it has become one of the most lasting and iconic corporate brand assets in the world; a true aerial ambassador for Goodyear. The Goodyear Blimp is actually represented by four identical Zeppelin NT semi-rigid airships: three based in the U.S. and one in Germany.
The 2025 Goodyear Blimp tour has also included stops at the WEC races at Imola and Spa. Additional visits at races, sporting events, music festivals and more are planned for the rest of the year.
Sonia Leneveau, Marketing Director, Goodyear EMEA: “The Goodyear Blimp is a true icon that continues to bring joy to countless people at all sorts of events in North America and Europe. Since returning to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2020, it has offered an incredible viewing experience for those lucky enough to take flight, and a fascinating spectacle for any fans who manage to take their eyes off the thrilling on-track action. We’re excited to return to Le Mans as part of a special 100th anniversary tour this year.”
During Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Le Mans, the Goodyear Blimp’s packed schedule includes full days of flights for invited guests, subject to weather conditions.
Back on the ground, Goodyear is gearing up for its biggest 24 Hours of Le Mans ever as the exclusive tyre supplier to both the LMGT3 and LMP2 categories. It is also the 45th anniversary of Eagle, Goodyear’s performance tyre brand that links its unrivalled racing pedigree with its performance road tyre expertise.
Source: Tyretradenews
