The start of the 6 Hours of the Circuit of The Americas will be given this Saturday, September 17th at 5:00 p.m. local time (11:00 p.m. in the U.K.). With its six-hour format like all the other WEC races, with the exception of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the American round has the unique trait of a night finish! For the first time since the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans, the competitors in the biggest endurance championship will have to make due with varying light and changing track conditions. Though the drivers are used to driving at night, it can still offer its fair share of surprises: small mistakes on the track, miscalculated strategies…

Once the sun sets, the temperature goes down which modifies ideal conditions for using the track optimally. So the teams will need to make strategic choices in tyres according to the track temp so as to maintain their momentum. For the drivers, dusk is also a factor. One must remain hyper-focused at all times, adapting one's driving lap after lap with the changing light. Since drivers take turns (with two or three drivers maximum), some will drive during the day, then at night, with no transition time to adapt. The show will be stunning, with a night finish under the sparkle and excitement of fireworks! 

Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

Photo: Like at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the WEC competitors will have to drive at night during the 6 Hours of the Circuit of The Americas.