12-06-2023
Michelin innovations play central role at the centenary Le Mans 24 Hours
Michelin's new Hypercar range lived up to expectations, in spite of the drama-packed weekend's fickle weather which led to numerous interruptions.
Tyre strategy played a big role in the duel between Ferrari AF Corse and Toyota Gazoo Racing.
The track was cold and damp in places when action got under way at 4pm on Saturday afternoon, forcing the teams to think carefully about their respective tyre strategies. The performance of the Toyota Gazoo Racing cars on the soft-compound MICHELIN Pilot Sport slicks they fitted for the start initially caught Ferrari AF Corse by surprise. The Italian make, whose brace of 499Ps monopolized the front row of the grid, had gone for the medium option, and its cars were initially passed by the Toyotas before becoming more assertive a few laps into the race.
Grip was effectively at a premium during the first eight hours or so as heavy showers fell over the French circuit. Choosing the ideal moment to switch to the MICHELIN Pilot Sport Wet was crucial, especially on those occasions when the Safety Car was despatched, owing to the new procedure employed by the organisers to regroup the cars in the different classes each time it was called back in.
Until the halfway point, it looked as tough any of the teams might be capable of winning the centenary Le Mans, including Porsche which was represented by four 963s - three run by Porsche Penske and a private entry. These cars were eventually delayed for a variety of reasons but they were clearly capable of rivalling the Cadillacs, Ferraris, Peugeots and Toyotas running at the sharp end of the order. Peugeot Sport proved competitive on the MICHELIN Pilot Sport Wet and appeared in front for a long period until the #94 9X8 of Duval/Menezes/Muller lost ground due to accident-damage sustained during the hours of darkness. As the conditions dried, however, it became clear that the race was shaping up to become a two-way duel between Ferrari and Toyota.
Split by a mere 15 or so seconds, the #51 Ferrari 499P (Pier Guidi/Calado/Giovinazzi) and #8 Toyota GR010-Hybrid (Buemi/Hartley/Hirakawa) kept the huge crowd entertained for a long period. Two hours from the chequered flag, however, Ryo Hirakawa damaged his Toyota when he crashed into a guardrail. Repairs didn't take long but the incident played into the hands of the reliable Ferrari which went on to take the victory.
The next round of the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship will take teams to Monza's 'Temple of Speed' in northern Italy on July 9.
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