Michelin CGDE : and the 2021 Le Mans 24 Hours

Michelin and the 2021 Le Mans 24 Hours

This year's change of date has produced three notable challenges for the teams and Michelin Motorsport alike:

A step into the unknown

The new Michelin tyres developed virtually for the Hypercar class will be tackling the Le Mans 24 Hours circuit for the very first time. With around half the lap run on public roads the rest of the year, no prior testing was possible to prepare for the race ahead of the official Test Day. However, the results achieved at the first three rounds of the 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) revealed the outstanding performance of these tyres out of the box.

Potentially hoiter weather

With average temperatures of around 26°C in August as opposed to 23°C in June, potentially warmer conditions have the potential to have an impact on the teams' race strategies. This will not change the tyres' fundamental performance characteristics but it might be key to making the ideal choice for the prevailing air and, above all, track temperatures.

Two extra hours racing after dark

In the second half of August, the nights are appreciably longer than in June. This means competitors will do battle for two hours more in the dark, not to mention the possibility of different temperatures and humidity levels compared with the race's traditional slot, two other factors that are likely to influence tyre choice during this year's Le Mans 24 Hours.

• 08/26/2021|PDF - 6.69 Mo

  Michelin and the 2021 Le Mans 24 Hours