Michelin Technology goes to Mid-Ohio

Michelin technology enabled the 2011 Le Mans-winning Audi R18 prototype to run five consecutive stints (420 miles) on a single set of Michelin tires. The victory was the 14th consecutive overall race win at Le Mans for Michelin.

The Mosport and Le Mans GT category-winning Corvette Racing team also demonstrated Michelin’s progress in extending performance and tire life by triple-stinting Michelin GT-class tires and posting the fastest GT lap of the 24-hour race on the final lap of a 340-mile triple-stint.

Momentum is a big part of racing, and that applies to the 2.258-mile circuit at Mid-Ohio, the mid-point of the 2011 American Le Mans Series season.

Michelin arrives at Mid-Ohio with a single bullet in its Prototype arsenal. The Muscle Milk Aston Martin has wins at Long Beach and Mosport and a hard fought second place at Lime Rock.

The ALMS GT category, one of the most competitive series in the world, is poised for a shift following the Michelin technical partners’ Corvette and Ferrari 1-2 finish at Mosport, ending a three-race BMW win streak.  

“Mid-Ohio is a demanding circuit,” said Karl Koenigstein, Michelin ALMS technical team leader. “Mid-Ohio is a very busy track that packs 13 corners into its 2.258 miles. As a result, neither the driver nor the tires get much chance to rest during a lap. Add in a limited number of passing zones, and our Michelin technical-partner teams need tires that provide turn-in and lateral grip for all the corners. They also need a good wear resistance to ensure consistently quick lap times throughout the stint.” Michelin is undefeated in ALMS GT competition at Mid-Ohio.

In addition to the LMP1 class Muscle Milk Aston Martin prototype, Michelin provides a specially tailored, non-proprietary tire for exclusive use in the Le Mans Prototype Challenge class. 

Michelin GT-category technical partners include the 2011 Le Mans-winning Corvette Racing team No. 3 with drivers Olivier Beretta and Tommy Milner and the No. 4 with Mosport winners Jan Magnussen and Oliver Gavin.

They are joined by the defending Mid-Ohio GT champion No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari with Jaime Melo and Toni Vilander and the Extreme Speed Motorsports Ferraris of No. 01 Scott Sharp and Johannes van Overbeek and the No. 02 of Ed Brown and Guy Cosmo.

The 2009 Mid-Ohio-winning No. 45 Flying Lizard Porsche combination of Patrick Long and Joerg Bergmeister are joined by teammates Seth Neiman and Darren Law in the No. 44 Porsche.

In addition, an ALMS all-female driver combination will compete at Mid-Ohio with Robertson Racing’s Andrea Robertson and Melanie Snow in the No. 40 Ford GT. They are teamed with the No. 04 Robertson pairing of David Murry and Anthony Lazzaro.