• Australia’s most popular and diverse club-level touring car category selects Bridgestone.
• Improved Production to race on Bridgestone’s POTENZA RE-71RS in 2026, becoming the first Australian series to use it as a control tyre.
• Partnership with Improved Production to showcase the passion of Bridgestone’s rich motorsport heritage. 

ADELAIDE, South Australia (7 October, 2025) — Improved Production Racing Association clubs around Australia will race on a new tyre in 2026, with the appointment of Bridgestone’s POTENZA RE-71RS semi-slick as the control tyre in 2026.

The POTENZA RE-71RS was chosen after a competitive tender process seeking a tyre suitable for all track conditions on IPRA cars ranging from virtually stock 1600cc cars to high-powered turbo and V8 cars capable of nearly 300km/h.

The RE-71RS was tested on multiple cars at Sydney Motorsport Park and Darwin’s Hidden Valley before the tyre became the favoured choice for IPRA from next year.

IPRA Australia National Administrator Brett Watters said Bridgestone had made a compelling offer to supply and support the category nationally.

“No other category in Australia has the breadth of car models and configurations that regularly compete in IPRA,” Mr Watters said. “The Bridgestone tyre performed flawlessly under testing at two challenging tracks, it offers a wide range of sizes to suit our cars, and the company has offered strong support for our long-running Nationals event.

“This is an exciting new era for IPRA, with a new tyre manufacturer for the first time since our category was established in the 1990s.”

Bridgestone Australia & New Zealand Managing Director Heath Barclay believes Improved Production Racing is an ideal category to re-ignite Bridgestone’s Australian motorsport involvement.

“We’re thrilled to be trusted by the Improved Production Racing Association as the next control tyre to the series. The POTENZA name is iconic within Australian motorsport and it’s exciting to see it back on tracks next year with one of the most diverse and competitive categories in the country,” Mr Barclay said.

“Club racing is a significant part of the motorsport landscape and plays an important role in our global motorsport framework. Improved Production Racing is ideal to showcase our POTENZA RE-71RS semi-slick tyre and demonstrate our passion for both grassroots motorsport and premier categories around the world.”

Bridgestone has a rich motorsport heritage spanning more than 60 years, with Improved Production Racing joining the global motorsport portfolio including the Bridgestone GR86 Championship in New Zealand, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing GR86/BRZ Cup in Japan, Super GT Series, Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, and the NTT INDYCAR^® Series in America.

Globally, Bridgestone is reinforcing its sustainable motorsport activities based on the message of ‘Passion to Turn the World,’ which expresses its commitment to evolving its motorsport activities. Using racing as a "mobile laboratory," Bridgestone utilises insights from motorsport in the development of its next generation of replacement tyres under the concept "From Circuit to Street”.

The POTENZA RE-71RS is also available for enthusiasts through Bridgestone Australia’s network of Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto stores and Bridgestone Service Centre locations, or online at www.bridgestone.com.au. 

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About IPRA Australia

IPRA is Australia’s most competitive, popular and diverse club-level touring car category.  We achieve this by encouraging integrity, ingenuity and competitiveness on the track, and loyalty and supportiveness off the track.   We believe in embracing technology, while acknowledging our touring car heritage. IPRA aims to provide anyone the opportunity to experience the thrill of motor racing.