FIA responds to criticism over WEC tyre warmer ban after Spa crashes

A statement describing the ban on pre-heating tyres introduced in the WEC for this season as a necessary move for the series followed criticism from drivers and team principals. 

"Moving away from tyre heating was a much-needed step from a sustainability point of view and something that the FIA Endurance Commission agreed on as part of a long-term WEC tyre road map,” said Marek Nawarecki, FIA director of circuit sport. 

“It is important to remember that already for a number of years there have been several motorsport series, including endurance racing series, around the world that do not rely on tyre warmers. 

“The nature of every incident is different, and each case has to be looked at before any conclusions are made.”

The ban on tyre warming, which traditionally takes place in diesel-heated ovens behind each car’s pit in the WEC, was brought into focus by cold conditions over the course of the Spa 6 Hours meeting. 

OPINION: How Spa showed the folly of the WEC's self-defeating tyre rules

Toyota driver Brendon Hartley’s crash at the top of Eau Rouge on his out-lap in qualifying and Antonio Fuoco’s accident on the front straight as he left the pits after a full service were just two of the incidents in which the ban was implicated. 

Criticism of prohibiting tyre warmers was widespread in the paddock over the course of the weekend. 

#8 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota GR010 - Hybrid: Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, Ryo Hirakawa

Photo by: Toyota

Toyota driver and team principal Kamui Kobayashi described the move as “crazy dangerous”, while Ferrari sportscar boss Antonello Coletta called for the ban to be re-evaluated before the Le Mans 24 Hours in June, the next round of the WEC. 

“It’s time to do some serious thinking on the matter because it has major ramifications for safety,” he said. 

Peugeot’s Jean-Eric Vergne suggested that the concerns of the drivers weren’t being heeded by the FIA. 

“I don’t think the drivers have a voice to be heard in the decision-making,” he replied when asked if he thought there could be a change in time for Le Mans. 

The FIA did put measures in place for Spa to try to mitigate the effects of the closing speeds between cars leaving the pits on cold rubber and those already up to speed. 

White flags to indicate a slow-moving vehicle on track were shown from Turns 1 to 4 (La Source up to the top of Eau Rouge) from the beginning of free practice. 

From FP3 on Friday morning it was decided that the trackside marshalling panels should also show the white flag to better alert the drivers that there was a car leaving the pits.

Hypercar tyre supplier Michelin was also given dispensation to supply all three specifications of 2023 slicks for Spa, rather than the two normally allowed at regular WEC races. 

It made the request to do so in order for the teams to be able to better match their tyres to what were always expected to be changeable conditions. 

OPINION: How Spa showed the folly of the WEC's self-defeating tyre rules