Falken Drivers Earn Podiums, Set Track Record at Watkins Glen
Race Report
- Eric Kutil finished second overall in the Gridlife Touring Cup, with consistent top finishes despite carrying additional rewards weight.
- Kal Fortner set a new rear-wheel-drive track record of 1:58.8 seconds during hot track conditions, demonstrating the tire's speed and heat cycle resilience.
- Falken's RT660+ tires maintained predictable handling and grip through multiple heat cycles, proving their durability for endurance and performance driving.
Falken Tires-supported drivers Eric Kutil and Kal Fortner earned multiple podium finishes and set a class track record during a recent Gridlife event at Watkins Glen International.
Both drivers competed on Falken’s Azenis RT660+, a 200-treadwear extreme-performance summer tire. Falken says the results demonstrated the tire’s ability to maintain predictable performance through repeated heat cycles — a characteristic that is relevant to dealers serving autocross, track-day and other performance-driving customers.
Kutil finished second overall for the Gridlife Touring Cup weekend after recording fourth-, third-, third- and second-place finishes in four races.
He entered the event carrying 138 pounds of rewards weight and competed against several higher-horsepower vehicles on Watkins Glen’s fast layout.
Kutil’s team made several setup changes during the weekend as it worked to improve the car’s balance and reduce drag. Falken officials say a used set of RT660+ tires that had accumulated eight to 10 heat cycles continued to produce personal-best lap times during testing.
Fortner competed in the event’s Time Attack division. After addressing an early mechanical problem, he twice reset the StreetMod rear-wheel-drive track record, ultimately recording a lap time of 1 minute, 58.8 seconds.
Falken says Fortner set the record after the tires had undergone multiple heat cycles and during some of the weekend’s hottest track conditions.
Fortner also earned a podium finish during the event’s Sunday Podium Sprint. He has finished on the podium at every event he has entered this season, according to Falken.
“Watkins Glen presented two very different challenges for our drivers, but the results reinforced exactly what the RT660+ was designed to do,” says Gerald Alvarado, supervisor of motorsports for Falken Tires.
“Eric demonstrated the tire’s consistency throughout multiple races and extensive heat cycles while battling for the championship, and Kal proved its outright speed by setting a new track record and continuing his podium streak. Whether it’s endurance over an entire race weekend or delivering maximum grip when it matters most, the RT660+ continues to perform at the highest level.”