Three teams won season-long contingency awards in Michelin’s first full season as Official Tire of IMSA for spending the Least Time in the Pits throughout the full season.

These came for teams running Michelin’s range of commercial tires, the Pilot® Sport GT S8M and S9M slick tires.

These awards rewarded team members for their outstanding performance, with the following award DOT-legal street tire sets:

• GTD: 18 sets
• GS: 16 sets
• LMP3: 12 sets

Scuderia Corsa (GT Daytona), Motorsports In Action (GS) and Forty7 Motorsports (LMP3) took home the top honors.

SCUDERIA CORSA CLAIMS GTD

Scuderia Corsa’s success came with a few Michelin Endurance Cup race podiums, courtesy of Toni Vilander, Cooper MacNeil and Jeff Westphal in the No. 63 WeatherTech Ferrari 488 GT3.

“To be awarded for our consistency of speed in pit lane is a testament to the efficiency we strive for every race weekend,” Scuderia Corsa team principal Giacomo Mattioli said in a team release.

“This comes with practice and passion for what we do. It also shows that the competition does not end, you are fighting every second of the race; it is just not always the driver doing the fighting.”

MOTORSPORTS IN ACTION TOPS GS

Motorsports In Action’s performance in the pits helped propel it to the lead quite frequently during the first season of the renamed IMSA MICHELIN Pilot Challenge series.

With four podiums and the pair of Corey Fergus and Jesse Lazare leading 103 laps in the No. 69 McLaren 570S GT4, these two finished second in the championship.

“Without a doubt the most cherished award a team could be presented with,” said Motorsports In Action team principal Eric Kerub.

“This Contingency award from Michelin: ‘Least Time in Pits’ for the 2019 MICHELIN Pilot Challenge Season reflected our crew’s performance, often the unsung heroes of the race weekend, that ensured our car was not only in excellent condition prior to the start of each race, but also repeatedly executed the cleanest and fastest pitstops flawlessly all year-round.

“Although we narrowly missed the top step for the season Championship, this award from Michelin tells an important story of excellence throughout the season, and for that, we couldn’t be prouder. 

“We are sincerely most appreciative to Michelin for making this kind of award available allowing us to showcase our performance ‘behind the scenes’ after being winning recipients.”

FORTY7 WINS LMP3

Forty7 Motorsports made the most of its season in IMSA Prototype Challenge as its No. 47 Norma M30 of Austin McCusker and Rodrigo Pflucker captured the title. Oftentimes, they were in great position to secure great results thanks to its crew.

“Forty7 Motorsports is grateful to have won the Michelin Contingency awarded to the Prototype Challenge team with the least amount of time spent on pit road,” said Forty7 team principal Garrett Kletjian.

“This award recognizes the hard work and dedication of the Forty7 Motorsports pit crew and mechanics that supported the No. 47 Norma M30 during its championship winning Season.  

“Thank you to Michelin Motorsports for creating a contingency award that rewards teamwork!”