Tire management key to mastering VIRginia International Raceway

Tire degradation has been a hot topic at VIRginia International Raceway among IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competitors. The clear belief is that tire management will play a primary role in the 2h40m Michelin GT Challenge at VIR.

Both GTD PRO and GTD have six sets of Michelin Pilot Sport Pro H1 tires for the entire weekend. Much of the practice sessions for most teams was spent trying to figure out how to make those tires last for the roughly hour-long stint that the fuel allows rather than focusing on outright pace. As a result, quick times were usually set early in a session, and in qualifying, drivers had only about a two-lap window where the tires were happy and fast.

“It’s nice to know that we have the outright pace for qualifying. It’s definitely been tough for us compared to some of the PRO cars recently,” said Madison Snow, who put the Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 that he shares with Bryan Sellers on pole. “But the outright pace isn’t going to help you a whole lot [in the race] with as much tire deg as we have going on. And so I think we’ve focused on that all we can.

“I hope we’ve focused on that enough. I think we’re coming into this the best we can, so I think we actually have a good shot at tomorrow, but it’s going to be a long hot race, so we’ll see.”

VIR rookies…

It’s hard to believe the number of drivers who are new to VIRginia International Raceway. The 3.27-mile, 17-turn circuit on the border of Virginia and North Carolina has been a fixture on the IMSA calendar for years.

But for some drivers racing their first season in IMSA, or those whose careers have had them racing prototypes in recent years, VIR is a new experience. That includes GTD polesitter Giammarco Levorato and Ford Multimatic Motorsports’ Harry Tincknell.

“It’s absolutely awesome,” declared Tincknell. “It’s kind of like a mini Nürburgring in some respects, and I think probably one of the most challenging tracks I’ve ever been to in my life. I think we see that with the amount of cars in the grass, going off.

“I had a little spin [Friday] as well. So it’s really fun. It’s not often these days, as someone that’s been racing cars for 16 years and motorsport for like 25, you go to a new track. So it’s really awesome to get that experience. A lot of new tracks these days, they are essentially big car parks with white lines and this is far, far from that. It’s really fun. I think it’s going to provide some great racing.”

…Vs. Experience

Conversely, there are drivers who have already raced at VIR this year, and some drivers and teams that also race in IMSA’s Michelin Pilot Challenge and thus raced here yesterday. Stevan McAleer and Robby Foley raced Saturday in IMPC, as did Foley’s team, Turner Motorsport, and Winward Racing.

But Foley, Bryan Sellers, Tommy Milner and Philip Ellis raced at VIR earlier this year in Fanatec GT World Challenge America. But it’s Adam Adelson and Elliott Skeer who have the most direct experience from that race, racing together for the same team, Wright Motorsports and the same car, the Porsche 911 GT3 R – albeit on different tires and in a shorter race.

“The actual numbers go to the nerds to see what they might see from all the data. But ultimately, for the driver, we’re looking for a very similar feel,” explained Skeer after setting the quick time in the second practice session. “Obviously there are some core differences in the tire, and that is the common denominator connecting you to the track.

“So you’re never going to get a feeling exactly the same; but, ultimately, at a place like this, where the margins are so tight, you’re just looking for consistency and predictability in the car. And we’re pretty happy with where we have her right now.”

Skeer qualified the No. 120 Wright Motorsports Porsche third in GTD.

First worldwide pole

The still-new Ford Mustang GT3 is currently competing in the World Endurance Championship, GT World Challenge Europe, and in both GTD classes in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Yet Giammarco Levorato’s GTD pole yesterday in the No. 55 Proton Competition Mustang is the first pole for the car in any series.

Drive Time

Minimum drive time for GTD PRO is 10 minutes of the 2h40m race. GTD drivers must complete at least 45 minutes each.

How to watch and listen

The Michelin GT Challenge at VIR race will be carried live on USA Network and streamed on Peacock beginning at noon Eastern, as well as on IMSA.tv and YouTube.com/IMSAOfficial outside the U.S. IMSA Radio will have commentary during the race on IMSA.com and RadioLeMans.com, and SiriusXM live race coverage begins at noon (XM 206, Web/App 996)….