- Cadillac wins in Detroit, Lexus takes GTD class
- Michelin Performance Shatters Records
Detroit, Michigan—June 4, 2022 – Michelin celebrated the final IMSA WeatherTech race on Belle Isle Park with an impressive display of outstanding performance.
The consistent and long-lasting performance of MICHELIN® tires was clearly demonstrated both in qualifying and the 100-minute Chevrolet Sports Car Classic race on the Belle Isle Street Course.
“Michelin does an awesome job, their tires go forever,” said Vasser Sullivan Lexus driver Kyle Kirkwood after taking the GTD class pole on his ninth lap of qualifying.
Cadillac Racing’s Sebastien Bourdais echoed that after taking the DPi and overall race pole on his eighth lap of qualifying. “I still had some MICHELIN tire potential left and it all came together.”
The pole winning lap by Bourdais broke the previous DPi class lap record by 0.555 seconds. Cadillac’s Pipo Derani then lowered the previous race lap record by a stunning 1.615 seconds.
Meanwhile, Kirkwood and co-driver Ben Barnicoat went on to the GTD class victory, changing only two tires on their lone pit stop.
Michelin Leaves Belle Isle With Fond Memories
“The Motor City is a great place to highlight IMSA’s tremendous manufacturer competition. This weekend was a fitting farewell to Belle Isle, which has produced some great memories in sports car racing. We have treasured this chapter and now look forward to racing on the streets of downtown Detroit in 2023,” said Hans Emmel, Michelin IMSA WeatherTech series manager.
No. 01 Cadillac Chip Ganassi Wins Overall for Second Straight Year
Renger van der Zande and Sebastien Bourdais have swept both street races in 2022 with Chip Ganassi Racing. The No. 01 Cadillac DPi held off the No. 60 Meyer Shank Acura by 0.398 seconds. Taking the last spot on the podium was the No. 02 Cadillac DPi of Chip Ganassi Racing.
Vasser Sullivan Lexus Wins First Race of 2022
The No. 17 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F came across the finish line in first thanks to the driving of Ben Barnicoat and Kyle Kirkwood. The two finished 2.263 seconds ahead of the No. 23 Heart of Racing Aston Martin. Paul Miller Racing BMW took home third place.
See another side of Cadillac V-Series on MICHELIN® tires
Renger van der Zande visited Detroit after the IMSA race at Mid-Ohio in a Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, calling it the “Renger Ride.” The luxury sport sedan comes with exclusively developed MICHELIN® Pilot® Sport 4S tires. Watch here.
Michelin Post-Race Notes
- Lexus’ first victory of the season marked the 13th manufacturer to win in IMSA in 2022 across WeatherTech and Michelin Pilot Challenge.
- Detroit reminds the paddock and fans how important car manufacturers are to IMSA competition and to Michelin. Watch how that provides Michelin with relationships, data, and insight for tire development in this Detroit Grand Prix Michelin Tire Tech Minute.
- Three qualifying and race lap records were set this weekend. Sebastien Bourdais set the new DPi mark in qualifying with a 1:18.818. The new DPi race record was clocked at 1:18.877 by Pipo Derani. Aaron Telitz broke a GTD race record that had been standing since 2018 in GTD, with a 1:28.335 lap.
- Racing in the Motor City is a celebration of automobile technology. We asked IMSA drivers about their first cars. See their responses here.
Next up:
The 2022 IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship now heads to Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen on Sunday, June 26th. The race can be seen on Peacock starting at 10:40am and on USA from 2:00-5:00pm ET.