Michelin Lime Rock Notebook

New Looking Field

GTD Pro is the top class this weekend at Lime Rock Park after the retirement of GTLM last season. IMSA has moved to GT3-based cars with professional and amateur category drivers. GTD Pro teams feature professional drivers, while GTD teams use professional and amateur combinations.

A Fight for Overall Podium

The top three overall spots across WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and Michelin Pilot Challenge could feature multiple classes.

GTD Pro and GTD race cars are the same and now run on the same Michelin Pilot Sport tires. GS cars feature more horsepower than TCR cars, but the short straightaways at Lime Rock allow the touring cars to make up time under braking, cornering, and handling.

A TCR team ran the third quickest overall time in qualifying in 2021—just 0.096 seconds off the GS pole setting time.

Summer Heat

The Lime Rock Park circuit brings the heat. The past two IMSA race weekends have featured track temperatures as high as 132 degrees! This kind of heat on the track surface presents interesting challenges for drivers. Michelin engineers will work with teams on tire management and tire strategies to deal with the high temperatures on a track that can take a toll on tires.

Hyundai On a Hot Streak

After being winless through April, Hyundai has won three consecutive races in the Michelin Pilot Challenge series.

Robert Wickens and Mark Wilkins will be going for their third consecutive win Saturday in the No. 33 Hyundai Elantra N of Bryan Herta Autosport. Current TCR championship leaders Taylor Hagler and Michael Lewis won last year at Lime Rock for Bryan Herta Autosport.

Lime Rock Partnership

FCP Euro has once again upped its partnership at Lime Rock by becoming the title sponsor for this weekend’s race. The Connecticut-based online retailer of European auto parts has invested millions in Lime Rock with the repaved, extended and upgraded autocross facility dedicated in 2021 as the “FCP Euro Proving Grounds.”

You can see the FCP Euro team compete this weekend in Michelin Pilot Challenge in the No. 55 Mercedes-AMG GT4.

Up North

Lime Rock isn’t the only circuit that will feature Michelin race tires this week in North America. Porsche Carrera Cup North America will be racing on the streets during the Honda Indy Toronto weekend.

The first race takes place on Saturday at 3:35 p.m. ET and the second race starts at 1:35 p.m. ET Sunday. Meanwhile, Cadillac and Porsche are testing their new LMDh prototypes at Sebring.

Tire Allocations

WeatherTech Championship
GTD Pro: 7 sets Michelin Pilot Sport GT S9M
GTD: 7 sets Michelin Pilot Sport GT S9M

Michelin Pilot Challenge
GS: 5 sets – Michelin Pilot Sport GT S9M
TCR: 4 sets – Michelin Pilot Sport GT S9M+

Lime Rock Park IMSA Records

Qualifying
GTD/Trent Hindman/51.456 seconds/103.1 mph/July 2019
GS/Owen Trinkler/53.963 seconds/98.6 mph/July 2019
TCR/Michael Lewis/54.034 seconds/98.4 mph/July 2019

Race
GTD/Matt Campbell/52.048 seconds/101.9 mph/July 2019
GS/Robin Liddell/54.446 seconds/97.7 mph/July 2019
TCR/Stephen Simpson/55.025 seconds/96.6 mph/July 2019