The following timeline tracks status in TCR since last Saturday’s IMSA MICHELIN Pilot Challenge race at Watkins Glen International:

Last Saturday (June 29) some TCR class entries experienced tire related issues during the Michelin Pilot Challenge race at Watkins Glen International. Here is the update.

Saturday-Tuesday, June 29-July 2, Michelin engineers inspected tires and analyzed Watkins Glen data from all TCR entries. Evidence of excessive sidewall deflection of various magnitudes due to higher-than-anticipated lateral and vertical loads appeared in tires from all TCR manufacturers.

Monday-Wednesday, July 1-3, Michelin engineers conducted simulations for Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and all the remaining 2019 Pilot Challenge circuits, based on updated vehicle data obtained following the Watkins Glen race weekend.

Thursday, July 4, Michelin, in Phase I of a cooperative effort with IMSA, raised minimum TCR cold (starting) and hot (operating) tire pressures for Thursday’s Promoter Test day at CTMP. Tires were inspected and data analyzed following that test.

Friday, July 5, morning, For Phase II of the study, further increases in minimum cold and hot tire pressures and reduced maximumnegative camber were implemented. Tires from all manufacturers were inspected and analyzed. No issues appeared.

Friday, July 5, afternoon. Minimum cold and hot tire pressures and procedures were maintained with a slight increase in maximum camber permitted. Despite higher track temperatures (122 degrees (F)), six cars from Audi, Honda, Hyundai were all under the 2018 class pole time. No issues were observed in subsequent inspections. The Phase II tire pressures and camber specifications will now be used in TCR  for Saturday’s race.