Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA
Michelin and IMSA will allow GTP teams to use a second, softer tire compound at the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen in response to variable track conditions this weekend.
Cars in the top class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship were initially permitted seven sets of the Medium High-Temperature specification — the hardest version of Michelin’s GTP and Hypercar tire — across qualifying and the race.
However, an official bulletin issued after Saturday’s rained-out qualifying session confirmed that two sets of the Soft High-Temperature product, which sits in the middle of the range in terms of softness, will be permitted as part of the allocation.
Track action at Watkins Glen has been affected by rain showers that have contributed to low track temperatures for late June and lower grip levels.
A statement from IMSA and Michelin read: “Due to temperatures not consistent with recent 6 Hours of Watkins Glen events, Michelin will add two sets of SHT tires to the GTP event allocation.
“This change allows GTP teams to have options for the variable conditions.”
The total number of tires that can be used during the race will remain at seven following the addition of the SHT.
Teams will be able to start fitting the SHT compound before the warmup session that starts at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.
Chip Ganassi Racing Cadillac driver Renger van der Zande told Sportscar365 after qualifying that he hoped IMSA and Michelin would consider adding more tire options.
“The problem is that the [MHT] tire is not really made for these temperatures,” he said.
“We expected a very hot race. If you go out on track, the tire is giving you the signal that it’s all good, and then suddenly it gives up in the mid-corner in a very snappy way.
“Remembering the past when we had tires in IMSA that were known as not very good for warmup, this is 10 times worse. It looks very stupid if people fly off on their warmup lap, but it’s so easily done.”
Michelin has developed three slick tire compounds for GTP and the FIA World Endurance Championship’s Hypercar class, as well as a single wet weather specification.
The SHT was selected for the three most recent WeatherTech Championship rounds at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Long Beach and Sebring International Raceway.
It was joined by the Soft Low-Temperature option for teams to use during the cold night at the season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona.
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