Hypercar Drivers Downplay Tire Warmer Ban Risk

Drivers from Hypercar manufacturers Porsche, Cadillac and Peugeot believe that the decision to ban tire warmers for this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans will provide challenges on out laps, but does not pose a major safety risk.

While tire warmers are forbidden year-round in the FIA World Endurance Championship, an exemption was made at last year’s Le Mans on a one-off basis after the rule drew criticism after the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, where cold tires led to multiple cars having off-track moments.

However, this year, the decision has been made to not renew the exemption, with Article 6.5.5. of the supplementary regulations stating that “any process that involves a direct or indirect attempt at modifying the temperature of a tire (compared to the ambient temperature) is forbidden.”

Alex Lynn, who shares the No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R with Earl Bamber and Alex Palou, thinks the consequences of the change are “the same for everyone,” although he notes some manufacturers will be to cope with the rule change better.

“Ultimately there are some cars out there that are extremely good on cold tires,” Lynn said. “I think that will be definitely a benefit for a lot of people.”

The British driver believes that LMH manufacturers, like Toyota, Ferrari and Peugeot, could have an advantage because of the all-wheel drive layout of their respective cars.

“It’s more the braking capability they have,” Lynn said. “They effectively could have four-wheel braking capacity. But in a sense, with the MGU, you can do a lot of tricks with it, with the front motor.”

From the crop of LMDh manufacturers, Lynn tipped Porsche as one of the manufacturers to potentially be able take advantage, noting that the German brand are “very strong” on cold tires.

Michael Christensen, driver of the No. 5 Porsche 963, downplayed Lynn’s comments, quipping: “I don’t know where they get it from.

“For sure we work on any aspect, but first we want to have outright performance before we start to look at warm up.

“Sometimes things come together. I think it’s just one of those things.”

Christensen reckoned that the lack of heat in the tires could increase the risk of errors from drivers, but doesn’t think it comes with significant added danger.

“I think when you get past the first chicane on the Mulsanne Straight, I think you will be okay,” Christensen told Sportscar365.

“But from the pit exit until that point, I think you can expect some things because you get quite some heat in the tires down the straights as well and you start to get a feel for the grip.

“But I think, especially our car, it doesn’t really like the cold tires. There is the risk of doing a mistake. The risk of other people doing a mistake and you get involved in it.

“The risk of doing a flat spot with a completely new tire, which you had to do many stints on. This could be a big issue.

“It’s just a bigger potential of doing mistakes. I don’t think it’s dangerous or anything like that. It just makes it harder. I think it will be alright. But some people might get an issue with it during the race.”

Christensen’s compatriot and Peugeot driver Mikkel Jensen similarly believes the opening sector of the lap will provide the biggest challenges for drivers, but added that the available of the softer compound tire will make life easier for drivers.

“The way you exit the pit lane there, the Esses down onto the straight, I think this will be the hardest thing,” Jensen said.

“I think once you’re on the straight, you build up some temperature with speed. It’s very hard to say how difficult it will be. I’m not the only one on cold tires. It is what it is.

“Obviously, it’s a tough race. It helps for sure that we can use the soft tire there in the night.

“I think it will be harder with the medium during the day actually. Because the soft is a bit easier to heat up. Obviously it depends on the temperatures on track. It’s the same for everyone, but it is a hard track.”