Bridgestone Americas has plans for a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Akron, Ohio, that will serve as the future home of Firestone race tire manufacturing.

Located across the street from the Bridgestone Americas Technical Center, the Bridgestone Advanced Tire Production Center (ATPC) will take over race tire production for the Bridgestone Advanced Technology Workshop, where race tires are currently produced today. Plans for the ATPC include both new construction and the full renovation of an existing Akron structure.

The announcement was made at a special event in Indianapolis that included Indycar and Bridgestone leaders, racing legend Mario Andretti and veteran IndyCar driver and team owner Ed Carpenter. A second event also was held at the Bridgestone Americas Technical Center in Akron with two-time Indy 500 winner Al Unser Jr.

All race tire manufacturing will move to the new facility over the next four years, and early plans are for the site to produce its first Firestone Firehawk race tires for testing in the NTT IndyCar Series by the end of 2020.

For more information, visit the Bridgestone Americas website.