The preheating of tires will also not be permitted at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2024 – the ACO had considered an exception until recently
Tire warmers will finally disappear from the World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2024. According to the draft regulations for the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans, tire warmers will also not be permitted at the WEC’s season highlight
The Le Mans organizer ACO seems certain that tire manufacturers Michelin and Goodyear have learned enough since the debacle at the 2023 Spa 6 Hours.
The preheating of the tires had been abolished in the 2023 WEC, but after the numerous accidents at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, the ovens were allowed again for the 24 Hours of Le Mans on a one-off basis. Even then, it was said that the tire manufacturers wanted to be given time to understand the causes of the accidents.
WEC boss Frederic Lequien recently held out the prospect of a renewed one-off approval of the tire warmers for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. “Le Mans is something very special because of the temperature differences [between day and night], the different classes and the different driving levels of the drivers,” he said just two weeks ago.
But now the draft regulations contain the same text as the 2024 WEC regulations: “Any process involving an attempt to directly or indirectly influence the tire temperature is prohibited.”
When asked by Motorsport.com, the ACO confirmed that the rule is set in stone. The Le Mans organizer had no further comment.
The measure is likely to be welcomed by the teams, as the same rules now apply to all WEC races. Richard Dean, Team Principal of United Autosports, says: “I would have preferred tire warmers, but I understand the reason for the rule [climate protection]”.
“We raced at the 24 Hours of Daytona a few years ago in sub-zero temperatures at night. So it is possible. “