24h Le Mans
Test Day is a welcome opportunity for teams to test their set up, in particular which tyres for which circumstances. What did they learn in their eight hours on the track on Sunday? What did they decide on? What does the full Circuit des 24 Heures imply in terms of tyre choice?
During the Test Day on Sunday, track temperature hit a high of 48°C. Conditions were therefore ideal and teams were able to try out various tyre compounds in preparation for the race. The weather could be very similar for the race says Mathias Kipp, sales director of Dunlop Motorsport. “Two compounds were a cut above the rest. They could cover the temperature range we’re likely to experience on race day." At the 24 Hours of Le Mans competitors need tyres that can perform well with a track temperature ranging from 10 to 50°C. That is a challenge for manufacturers Dunlop and Michelin, who supply the tyres for the race.
The long straights at Le Mans minimise wear on treads. However, the carcass is put under intense strain. "Last year, we did five stints with the same tyres. That’s 600 km. But the carcass has to be very solid. It undergoes a lot of pressure due to the amount of downforce and the fast turns like the Porsche Curves."
The FIA World Endurance Championship 2018-19 Super Season which ends with the 24 Hours of Le Mans was particularly challenging for the tyre suppliers. Tyres were selected at the beginning of the season as per the regulations, but the longer period meant suppliers had to keep up with the development of the cars for the duration of the championship. “We declared three specifications of slick tyres at the beginning of the season. Teams decide on specifications during practice or even the race because one compound might be better at night than another and vice-versa."
In LMP2, the wrangle for the upper-hand between Michelin and Dunlop is bound to be fierce. Twelve cars are shod by Michelin, 8 by Dunlop. “Such stiff competition pushes us to the limits. The WEC, the 24 Hours of Le Mans are the last competitions where suppliers are pitted against each other. It adds spice to the race for us. It’s difficult to say who will win the class,” observes Kipp.
PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES DU MANS, SUNDAY 2 JUNE 2019, TEST DAY. For the 24 Hours of Le Mans, LMP1 teams are allocated 48 sets of tyres, LMP2 56 and LMGTE Pro and Am 60.
