Michelin returns to Watkins Glen in style

Michelin made a highly successful return to Watkins Glen International today as Michelin technical partner teams from Corvette Racing, Dodge Viper SRT, Porsche North America, BMW Team RLL and Risi Competizione Ferrari combined to take the top eight places in the fiercely competitive GTLM class in the Sahlen’s 6 Hours of the Glen, a major event on the 2014 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship schedule.

A hot, steamy day with temperatures approaching 90 degrees and track temperatures of 115 degrees, made for a slick track surface, which combined with the deep 53 car field and tight competition had drivers intensely focused for the entire six-hour race on the fast 3.4 mile, 11 turn circuit that features two sets of 140 foot elevation changes each lap.

Taking the GTLM victory, its third consecutive TUDOR Championship win, was the new No.3 Corvette Racing C7.R driven by Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia, who led much of the race and then held off the challenge of the No.93 Dodge Viper of Marc Goossens and Dominik Farnbacher on a final restart with one lap remaining. They were followed by their respective teammates; Dodge Viper’s Jonathan Bomarito and Kuno Wittmer in third and Corvette Racing’s Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner in fourth.

Michelin Comment:
“To return to Watkins Glen for the first time in 15 years and see all of our technical partners run so well in difficult conditions is very satisfying for our teams and drivers and for our Michelin engineers, tire developers and staff,” said Ken Payne, technical director, motorsports, Michelin North America. “Our five manufacturer partner teams all turned best laps within an incredibly tight 37 hundredths (0.37) of a second range. To be that close on times on a 105 second lap of a very technical course is amazing,” said Payne.