Paul Di Resta, a Peugeot driver, expressed concerns about the lack of tire warmers in the FIA World Endurance Championship, especially for the upcoming 24 Hours of Le Mans. According to the Scottish driver, this decision introduced a significant level of uncertainty for the race. Di Resta believes that tires are not designed to be started from cold, and the removal of tire warmers has made it difficult for drivers to predict the behavior of the cars, especially considering their size and the speeds they reach. Di Resta, who is part of the Peugeot 9X8 team #94, along with Loic Duval and Stoffel Vandoorne, expressed his desire for further development in terms of having better control over the tires. He stated that drivers do not feel in control when the tires are cold, as it takes time for the rubber to heat up, which usually happens with heat. One of the challenges at Le Mans is warming up the tires when leaving the pits with new cold tires. Di Resta explained that speed is crucial but difficult to achieve in sector one of the track. Even on the Mulsanne straight, drivers are cautious due to the uncertainty caused by cold tires. The time it takes for the tires to reach the ideal temperature depends on external factors such as temperature and compound. This can influence tire selection and teams’ strategy in colder conditions. Di Resta believes that the decision to remove tire warmers was premature and that the tires are not yet ready for it. He expressed concerns about the feeling of insecurity and lack of control during winter testing due to the unpredictable nature of cold tires. Finally, Di Resta highlighted the contradiction in the regulations, where cars are heavy and have little aerodynamic pressure, which is essential for starting the tires.
