Michelin Sebring Notebook

Ahead of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring weekend, Michelin provides some pre-race statistics, notes and data.

12H Sebring Tire Allocations

WeatherTech Championship
DPi: 23 sets – IMSA Medium
LMP2: 23 sets – IMSA Medium
LMP3: 18 sets – Michelin Pilot Sport GT S8M (Fronts) / S9M (Rears)
GTLM: 21 sets – GTLM Range
GTD: 18 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+

Six Sebring Races: There are six total races and 17 hours total of racing at Sebring this week among the four Michelin and BFGoodrich series in IMSA. Beyond the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, the Michelin Pilot Challenge race is 2 hours and the Porsche Carrera Cup North America and Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup series both race twice for 45 minutes each. The one-hour, 45-minute IMSA Prototype Challenge race ran last week.

S9M+ For All TCR Cars: The latest updated Michelin Pilot Sport GT S9M+ tire, which ran on TCR front axles only at Daytona, will now run on all four corners in this class starting at Sebring. The new tire was introduced at Daytona following offseason testing and development.

Endurance Cup Update: The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring serves as the second round of the Michelin Endurance Cup. Points at Sebring are awarded at the four, eight and 12-hour marks. The class leaders after Daytona are:

DPi: No. 10 Konica Minolta Wayne Taylor Racing Acura ARX-05
LMP2: No. 8 Tower Motorsport ORECA 07
LMP3: No. 74 Riley Motorsports Ligier JS P320
GTLM: No. 4 Corvette C8.R
GTD: No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3

Michelin Winners at Sebring: Of the 18 automotive brands entered in IMSA, 10 have won points-paying races at Sebring in two series, in the last two years with Michelin. Those include:

WeatherTech Championship
Cadillac (2019 12-hour DPi, 2020 July DPi)
Mazda (2020 12-hour DPi)
Porsche (2019 12-hour GTLM, 2020 12-hour GTLM, GTD)
Chevrolet (2020 July GTLM)
Lamborghini (2019 12-hour GTD)
Lexus (2020 July GTD)

Michelin Pilot Challenge
Audi (2019 GS, 2020 July GS)
Hyundai (2020 July TCR, November TCR)
BMW (2020 November GS)
Honda (2019 TCR)

Ford, Mercedes-AMG and Audi have also won with Michelin at Sebring in the non-points Encore event.

March to March: Owing to schedule adjustments and additional events, four of the last five IMSA-sanctioned race weekends at Sebring have taken place in a month other than the traditional March dates.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic schedule upheaval, the two points-paying IMSA weekends at Sebring in 2020 took place in July with an additional sprint race weekend and the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours moved from March to November.

Additionally, the non-championship Michelin IMSA SportsCar Encore ran in November 2018 and 2019.

March Temperature Range: The traditional March timeframe and temperatures, generally in the mid-to-high 80s ambient with track temperatures in the 110-plus degree range on the concrete/asphalt surfaces, are expected to greet competitors this weekend.

The July and November races last year feature ambient temperatures anywhere from 73 to 84 degrees and track temperatures anywhere from 75 to 90 degrees. The asphalt surface is hotter than the concrete surface.

MX-5 at Sebring: The Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires joins the schedule at this year’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring weekend, with its two races Thursday at 4:20 p.m. ET and Friday at 9:00 a.m. ET. Races air live on IMSA.TV and TrackPass, and air later on NBCSN.

The Torque Show: The Torque Show has four shows planned for the Sebring 12 weekend, with hosts Justin Bell and Tommy Kendall.

Friday
Pre-Race, Michelin Pilot Challenge: 1:15-2:15 p.m.
Post-Race, Michelin Pilot Challenge: 5-6 p.m.

Saturday
Pre-Race, WeatherTech Championship: 9-10 a.m.
Mid-Race Update Show: 5-6 p.m.

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Web: michelinracingusa.com