Those GTLM IMSA WeatherTech United Sportscar Championship teams competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be allowed to test Le Mans-spec Michelin tires during this weekend’s Monterey Grand Prix, Racer reports.
Four of the five manufacturer’s participating in this year’s GTLM field will race at Le Mans. That’s includes defending GTE Pro Le Mans champs Corvette Racing, of course, along with Ford and their two Ford GTs and the Risi Competizione Ferraris.
“This will be the first time that our WeatherTech Championship teams race on our latest 2016 specification tires,” said Michelin’s North America motorsports director Chris Baker. “We have run the first three races on our special 2016 ‘low energy circuit’ tires.”
“Making the 2016 WEC tires available to our teams in Monterey will help them to be on par with the WEC GTE-Pro teams from Ferrari, Ford, Aston Martin and Porsche at Le Mans,” Baker added. “We want all of our technical partner teams to be performing at an extraordinarily high level in Monterey and to carry that performance all the way to Le Mans.”
Corvette Racing and drivers Jan Magnussen, Antonio Garcia, Tommy Milner, Oliver Gavin and Jordan and Ricky Taylor will head to Le Sarthe in early June for the 84th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The team will also be hungry for a win at Laguna Seca after getting dumped by a Porsche at Long Beach last weekend.
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I worked for Michelin Tire Corp. from 1970 to 1984, my first REAL job. Started out as the inside Technical Customer Service person at the then Lake Success, NY US HQ, then outside sales as a Territory Sales Rep, Truck Tire Sales Mgr, Training Instructor, District Manager. What I wouldn’t give to be 40 years younger; I’d call in every favor, beg and plead to be a member of the Michelin Tire Team for Corvette Racing.
Mike [8TY4SPD Corvette] Waal
Member; First State Corvette Club, NCM