DSC’s Daily Notebook (04/07/2023)

GM visits Michelin ahead of 6H Monza

GM sports car racing programme manager Laura Wontrop Klauser and Corvette Z06 GT3.R programme manager Christie Bagne met with Michelin Motorsport principals ahead of the FIA WEC 6 Hours of Monza.

The visit included a full tour of the Michelin Motorsport headquarters and Cataroux facility in Clermont-Ferrand, France, which produces the tyres the Cadillac and Corvette programmes use in the FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

On-site, Wontrop Klauser and Bagne spent time with Matthieu Bonardel, Michelin Motorsport’s director (above, left), Philippe Trammont, Michelin Motorsport’s technical director and Anthony Lafont, Cadillac’s tyre technician (both below, left and right).

“I think site visits and getting to see people at their ‘homes’ is one of the best things you can do to understand how things work,” said Laura Wontrop Klauser. “To watch the process of putting the tyre together, which was very different than what I had in my mind, and to see how the casing is built and then how the compound gets wrapped around it is really good for me when we are having discussions and talk about tyre development and what Michelin is doing and the changes they are hunting for to make a better tyre for us. So, perspective is key.

“Then, just the chance to see the culture of the company. Michelin is a gem. The people are inquisitive, they’re always pushing themselves, looking for inspiration to be better – not just within the tyres but with the other items that they manufacture to support what they’re doing with tires. It was inspiring for me to see the passion that people bring to work every day, and I think that makes our relationship even stronger.

“We’ve had a phenomenal relationship with Michelin for a long time and we’re looking forward to continuing that as we go forward. Every Michelin employee that I got to interface with you could tell is so proud of their contribution to the company and the company’s contributions to the world. Michelin is big into sustainability, and it makes you feel good about working with a company that has goals and missions similar to our own at General Motors.”

Bagne meanwhile, felt the visit was useful in building Corvette’s relationship with Michelin ahead of the first phase of its GT3 customer programme with the Z06 GT3.R.

“Michelin aligns well with our goals in terms of focus on sustainability while maintaining the performance that leads to exciting racing that our fans love to see,” she said. “It was great to have the opportunity to see where all their motorsport tyres are manufactured. It’s incredible to imagine that all the tyres we see under a tent at a race weekend come out of that facility.

“We were impressed by the people working on the tyres as well as the engineering and development team. There is a lot that goes into it. We have a longstanding relationship between Michelin, ourselves and our constructor and future race team Pratt and Miller.

“I think those existing relationships will help us build for opportunities in the future — GT3 specifically with the global nature of that racing programme.”

New line-up and colours for Project 1 at Monza

Project 1 AO’s GTE Am class Porsche will race with a new livery and driver line-up at this weekend’s FIA WEC race at Monza.

The 911 RSR 19 will see Matteo Cairoli joined by 18-year-old Portuguese driver Guilherme de Oliveira and 47-year-old Porsche one-make racer Efrin Castro. For de Oliveira this is his second start of the season with Project 1 – AO, after he impressed team manager Axel Funke at Portimao.

Castro and Oliveira replace PJ Hyett and Gunnar Jeannette, who have IMSA GTD commitments at CTMP with AO Racing.

The Porsche meanwhile, will run in a new red livery after competing at Le Mans last month in bright-green ‘Rexy’ colours.

Spa 24 Hours highlights

Extended highlights of the 2023 Spa 24 Hours have been uploaded to the GT World YouTube channel.

Sean Creech’s Canadian livery

IMSA LMP3 team Sean Creech Motorsport will once again carry a Canadian flag-based motif on its pair of Ligier JS P320s this weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, contesting both the Chevrolet Grand Prix and VP Racing SportsCar Challenge doubleheader.

Lance Willsey and João Barbosa are back behind the wheel of the #33 SCM Focal One Ligier JS P320 in the IMSA SportsCar Championship main event, while Willsey will do double duty, also contesting the pair of 45-minute VP Racing SportsCar Challenge races in the #30.

Both cars will sport a variation on the Ligier’s usual stars and stripes, incorporating a stylized Canadian Maple Leaf onto one side of the car. For the team, it’s an opportunity to express their appreciation for the knowledgeable and passionate Canadian motorsports fans – and for Willsey, it’s even more personal.

“The environment at CTMP is one of my favourites,” said Willsey. “The fans are among the most knowledgeable and passionate fans of any track we go to. I’m really looking forward to it, especially with our special livery for this weekend. Canada always has and always will hold a special place in my heart and my consciousness. It welcomed my grandparents and mother in the early 1940s who settled and rebuilt their lives not far from here.”