WEC boss Frederic Lequien has revealed that the prohibition on pre-heating tyres in the pits before they are put on the car is under review on safety grounds for the double-points round of the series in June.
It follows the reversal of the ban introduced for environmental reasons at the start of 2023 season on a one-off basis for Le Mans this year after a spate of accidents involving cars leaving the pits on cold tyres at the previous round of the series at Spa in April.
“For the moment the decision is not taken for Le Mans,” Lequien said.
“We need to discuss again and again to make sure it is doable.”
Lequien explained that there were multiple factors why tyre warmers might be allowed for Le Mans, despite the ban being in place for the rest of the eight-race WEC schedule.
“Le Mans is very specific because of the differentials in temperature [between day and night], also the different categories and also the differences in driver skill,” he said.
“When you exit the pitlane at three in the night and the temperatures are quite low, it is doable, but the drivers need to adapt to this, and for this we need time.”
He also pointed out that the Le Mans grid next year will incorporate three classes rather than the two of the rest of the schedule when LMP2 returns following its removal from the full championship.
This will exacerbate problems caused by the speed differentials between the classes, which would be further increased when a car leaving the pits on tyres that haven't been pre-heated is approached by a car already up to speed on warm rubber.
Source: Autosport