Details

Category: Latest News

Created on Monday, 25 February 2013 10:29

UP TO SPEED

Who’s Racing:  

Rolex Series – March 2, 2013   CTSCCS– March 2, 2013

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Track:

Circuit of the Americas - 3.4-mile, 20-turn road course

Length:

Rolex Series - 2.75 hour timed race CTSCCS – 2.5 hour timed race

See For Yourself:

This week, Ryan Eversley, John Edwards and Matt Bell provide insight into GRAND-AM’s newest stop, Circuit of the Americas.  Robin Liddell discusses some of the more challenging parts of the track while Max Angelelli says he wants to be….surprised?!  You can also hear about Memo Rojas’ favorite vacation spot and why John Edwards wants to be a ski bum.  Watch now: GRAND-AM Rolls to Circuit of the Americas on Continental Tires.

Tire Sets:

DP, GT and GX teams will all be allowed 6 sets of tires for the race (including slicks and rain tires).  A team that has a Truman/Aiken driver, or “young gun” driver, will be allow one extra set.  There is no set limit for the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series (CTSCCS).

Where Else Does This Compound Race:

DP – this tire compound is used at Austin, Barber, Road Atlanta, Belle Isle, Mid-Ohio, Watkins Glen, Road America, Laguna Seca and Lime Rock. GT – this tire compound is used at Austin, Barber, Road Atlanta, Mid-Ohio, Road America, Laguna Seca, and Lime Rock. CTSCC – this tire compound will be used at all tracks this year.

Pit Window:

The estimated pit window for this race is 28-30 laps for all classes.  Expect to see teams use roughly three sets of tires during the race.  These are just approximations and does not account for fuel mileage, weather or caution flag laps.

Track Characteristics:

Circuit of the Americas (COTA) is a brand new track and has only been raced on once before, in Fall of 2012 by F1 cars.  The track is composed of a very tight aggregate, which makes the surface very smooth and initially doesn’t offer much grip.  As the track “rubbers in”, the grip and tire degradation will improve.

DID YOU KNOW

• 1, 2, 3, 4… – Continental Tire will bring approximately 4,000 tires to COTA.  The Continental team expects to process roughly 1,250 tires in the Rolex Series and 900 tires in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series.
• Double the fun – Will teams double stint on a set of Continental Tires at COTA?  That remains to be seen but it’s not out of the question.
• You did what? – During an average race weekend, Continental Tire will process roughly 2,000 tires between both the Rolex Series and Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series.  At the 2013 Rolex 24 at Daytona, Continental Tire processed 4,500 tires.
• Put to the test – While Continental Tire did not hold a tire-specific test at COTA, several teams have tested at the 3.4-mile, 20-turn road course independently.  Every team that has tested has reported good tire wear at the new track.
• It’s all in the preparation – So how does a tire company prepare a tire for a track that is brand new and un-known?  Representatives from Continental were present to service one of the independent team tests in December, collecting data and feedback.  Additionally, Continental has been monitoring other testing activities that have occurred at COTA with teams in other areas of auto racing.  This helps the Continental team develop some knowledge of the track’s characteristics and their effect on tires before the green flag drops.

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