IMSA: Pfaff Motorsports wins overall in Michelin GT Challenge

Virginia International Raceway delivered a demanding tire test during Sunday’s Michelin GT Challenge.

Track temperatures reaching 120 degrees, an abrasive track surface and long green-flag runs placed a premium on tire consistency and degradation management throughout the two-hour, 40-minute race.

For overall winners Andrea Caldarelli and Sandy Mitchell, the Michelin tires helped the No. 9 Pfaff Motorsports Lamborghini Temerario GT3 stay strong through those demanding conditions.

“It’s tough for the tires for sure,” Caldarelli said. “It’s such a hot day, the track is really abrasive, so degradation is not easy. But we had a really, really good car with the tires. They worked really nice and we didn’t have much degradation, which was what we were really looking for.”

That consistency became increasingly important as the race progressed. The final two hours and 20 minutes ran under green, creating extended stints and putting additional emphasis on how well teams could manage tire performance over time.

Drivers across the field pointed to the challenge. Robby Foley said teams were dealing with a hot race and long green-flag stints, while Philip Ellis noted that tire degradation became a major factor late in the event.

For Pfaff, that consistency helped the team convert pole position into a second consecutive victory following its Road America win.

The result also came during the 10th anniversary of the Michelin GT Challenge at VIR, making a demanding race an especially fitting showcase for Michelin performance.

As Caldarelli put it after the win, “It’s always great to drive on Michelin.”