ALMS/LMS tire warmer closets?

[davehenrie]

I saw during one of the more recent Le Mans Broadcasts, that teams get around not having tire blankets or tire warmers at Le Mans by keeping the tires in a heated portable closet.
The closet does not keep the tires nearly as hot like the blankets on F1 tires, but it does seem to get them much warmer than ambient temps...especially during the night.

But then I remember Alan McNish spinning the Audi R10 during the warmup lap at last years Petite Le Man. I believe he credited some of the blame to cold tires. (the rest to Driver Brain lock)

And I also remember the Miller ALMS race when John Field blasted by the Audis for the first several laps. The pit reporter stated the R10's were on hard tires and would need several laps to get up to proper temp.

So do the ALMS and LMS teams start with unheated tires or do they also bend the rules and use an insulated closet to keep the tires at least somewhat warm?

dh

[duke_toaster]

Tyre ovens are legal in FIA GT - I would not be surprised if they are legal in ALMS and LMS.

[whitec21]

Tire warming by any means is quite illegal in the ALMS. Not sure about the LMS though.

[Lola T70]

Tire heating is allowed at Le Mans and I presume LMS as well.

[betablocker]

tyre warmers are illegal in alms but ambient temps tend to be higher, - in europe we use the tyre 'ovens' as they are legal. in my mind they are far better than tyre blankets as they heat the whole tyre and rim not just mainly the tyre.

[airbusA346]

How hot do the 'ovens' normally get?

Tom.

[Canada ALMS fan]

Originally Posted by whitec21

Tire warming by any means is quite illegal in the ALMS. Not sure about the LMS though.

What about messing with fuel temperature?

[whitec21]

I'm assuming that you mean cooling down the fuel to increase density, and that's a big no-no. Fuel has to be at ambient temp and the refueling rig must be at atmospheric pressure.

[Adam43]

We used to keep our tyres in the Transit rather than outside in the cold. Does that count?

http://www.lemans.org/sport/sport/re...ortif_2009.pdf

Originally Posted by ACO Le Mans regs 2009

18.6 - Is prohibited : all kind of special equipment that is designed :18.6.1 - To make the wheel change faster.
One (1) pneumatic devices or one (1) torque wrenches only will be
permitted per car on the working area.
18.6.2 - To heat the tyres in the pit lane (“working area”), in the pits and
on the starting grid.
The use of equipment that may cause sparks is prohibited in front of or
inside the pit.
The filling or the transfer of the air tanks is strictly forbidden.
Penalty: Fine 2000 € for each infringement

....

ART. 20 - PIT FITTING-OUT
20.1 - Any fitting-out requiring drilling, welding or modifications of the pit
is only possible after the Organiser's written agreement.
...
20.6 - Equipment for heating the tyres.
Systems using a fuel are allowed behind the pits until 31/12/2010.
However, no naked flame is allowed and a fire extinguisher must
be placed permanently next to the equipment when it is running.
Penalty: Fine 2000 € for each infringement

[whitec21]

Originally Posted by AdamAshmore

We used to keep our tyres in the Transit rather than outside in the cold. Does that count?

We used to joke about doing that, but in the ALMS the rules state that any device used to artificially warm the tires is prohibited. But they're a lot looser about that sort of thing in Europe.

[Canada ALMS fan]

Originally Posted by whitec21

I'm assuming that you mean cooling down the fuel to increase density, and that's a big no-no. Fuel has to be at ambient temp and the refueling rig must be at atmospheric pressure.

Yes, that's what I meant thanks. I was wondering if they cooled the fuel like the F1 teams do (ie. controversy at Brazil GP 2007 when Williams and BMW allegedly had fuel too far below ambient). Edit - interesting about the pressure, makes sense.

[betablocker]

you tend to take the tyres out around 60 70 o C. Tyre ovens are still allowed in the rules at LM

18.6.2 - To heat the tyres in the pit lane (“working area”), in the pits and on the starting grid.

This just means cant have them in the garage, grid or on pit road so you use them by truck out back same as usual.

[davehenrie]

Excellent, thanks guys!!

[prototype]

Tyre ovens are used at Le Mans for safety reasons with the high speeds. I am assuming they are legal in the LMS as well.

LMS tends to follow ACO rules closer than the ALMS.