WEC | Goodyear confident for Imola: “It's a very different challenge”

The FIA ​​World Endurance Championship will race in Imola for the first time this weekend. The historic facility replaces Monza as the Italian stage of the championship, which will occupy a place in the calendar from 2021.

Imola is a circuit rich in motorsport tradition; first opened in 1953, it has become one of the best known in the world, with a narrow and challenging track that requires maximum attention from drivers for the entire duration of the race.

To explain some of the challenges for teams and drivers, Mike McGregor, Goodyear's Endurance Program Manager, provided his preview ahead of the weekend: “The season shifts from the high lateral demands of Qatar to the tighter, twistier track of Imola and we expect to see a slightly different type of driving among manufacturers.”

“The emphasis will be on fine-tuning the car to handle bumps and curbs. In the meantime, a lot of braking time can be gained here too.”

“Tire wear will be less noticeable than in Qatar, thanks to the expected lower temperatures and track characteristics. It is also a smooth track, so teams are expected to perform more stints on each tyre.”

Rigon describes the home event after the success of Qatar

For a preview of the weekend, Goodyear caught up with local driver and winner of the first LMGT3 Wingfoot Award, Davide Rigon. In the inaugural race in Qatar, at the wheel of the Ferrari 296 GT3 #54 of AF Corse together with teammates Francesco Castellacci and Thomas Flohr, the Venetian finished in fifth place in his class, but his constant pace throughout the stint earned him the Goodyear Wingfoot Award trophy.

“It will be more difficult for all of us than Qatar, also because the track is narrower and there is no margin for errors,” explains Rigon.

“Driving at Imola is always fantastic, I really like the track. The driving style here will play a fundamental role because it is 'old style', where every mistake costs a lot. Compared to the recent past, the curbs are quite high, there is a new asphalt surface and, in general, there is more gravel on the outside. Again, there is no margin for errors and the track limits will have to be strictly respected, otherwise a lot of time will be lost.”

Rigon can't wait to race in front of the home fans: “I can't wait to start the weekend. Racing in front of the fans will definitely be an extra boost. They have always been fantastic and support us wherever we race.”

After winning the Wingfoot Award in Qatar, the Ferrari driver then thanked his team for the excellent first race: “I am happy to start the season with the Wingfoot Award. This award is important because it testifies to the quality of the work done together with the team “.

“The 296 GT3 in Qatar was fantastic to drive and during my double stint it was really enjoyable to drive around the track. Speed, consistency and good lap times are not possible if you don't have a car that is delicate but also effective with its tyres”.

Regarding the specifications of the new Goodyear LMGT3 tyre, the Maranello driver expressed his compliments: “During the long runs in Qatar, I pushed and the tire provided a positive sensation throughout the stint”.

“The tires are very important and to make them work correctly there is a lot of work that we are doing with the team, with the engineers, with Ferrari to find the best possible set-up for the whole crew, something that worked for me and for my teammates.”

“Since I knew I had to do a double stint, I concentrated on tire preparation and consistency.”

McGregor adds, “The Wingfoot Award is why Goodyear competes in high-level endurance racing. The ability to achieve consistent performance and maintain tire life throughout is the key to any successful endurance season.”

“Congratulations to Davide Rigon and AF Corse for taking home the first Wingfoot Award trophy of the LMGT3 era.”