Top Formula One, Le Mans, FIA World Rally Championship
and Motorcycles ride on Michelin(R) tires
DETROIT, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- When the world's premier vehicle
manufacturers put their image, resources and technology on the starting line
in international motorsports, they choose Michelin as their tire technology
partner.
As the start of the 2004 season approaches, Michelin's support of
automaker race programs continues to grow. In two recent announcements, the
world's largest tiremaker confirmed that it will support GM's Corvette Racing
team in American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans as well
as adding B.A.R. Honda to its Formula One line up.
Michelin is already actively testing with many of its teams in a wide
range of competitions. Although some racing series like NASCAR and the Indy
Racing League choose to negotiate a "spec" tire used by all teams, Michelin
prefers open forms of competition.
"We believe that competition with other tire companies improves the
breed," said Tom Chubb, vice president of marketing for Michelin Automotive
Industry Division. "Michelin races to win, just like our OE partners. We
thrive on competition and we're pleased that so many of the world's top
vehicle manufacturers entrust us with their major programs. They know that
Michelin has outstanding technology and is relentless in the quest to
constantly improve our products and performance."
A partial list of Michelin-shod 2004 manufacturer major motorsports teams
shows it supports and dominates in racing efforts as diverse as Formula One,
World Rally Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where as many as five
tire companies compete.
Manufacturer Team Entry Series
General Motors Corvette ALMS/Le Mans
Toyota Panasonic Toyota Formula One
Ford Jaguar Formula One
Ford Focus RS World Rally Championship
DCX West McLaren Mercedes Formula One
Volkswagen Group Audi ALMS/Le Mans
Honda B.A.R. Honda Formula One
Peugeot Marlboro Peugeot World Rally Championship
Citroen Citroen Total World Rally Championship
Renault Renault Formula One
BMW BMW Williams Formula One
Mitsubishi Mitsubishi World Rally Championship
Porsche Porsche Teams ALMS/Le Mans
Porsche All Porsche Cup
Honda Repsol Honda MotoGP 500 cc WC
In addition, Michelin MotoGP motorcycle partners include top Honda,
Yamaha, Ducati and Aprilia teams.
"When our partner teams take the checkered flag on Michelin tires,
consumers win too, because the development lessons we learn on the track are
often shared and, in some cases, transferred to Michelin's ultra-high
performance street tires," said Chubb.
Michelin will introduce four new ultra-high performance tire lines for
consumers in 2004, drawing upon the technology and innovation it has developed
in its motorsports programs. The Formula One-inspired Michelin(R) Pilot(R)
Sport PS2(TM) will be available for sale to North American consumers in March
2004.
In Formula One, Michelin will now provide Michelin Pilot racing tires to
six of the seven manufacturer teams (BMW Williams; West McLaren Mercedes;
Renault; Panasonic Toyota; B.A.R. Honda and Jaguar). Michelin-fitted teams
won eight poles, seven races and scored 30 of a possible 48 podiums and 408 of
a possible 624 points in 2003 competition.
Despite competition from five other tire companies, Michelin-shod teams
(including Bentley; Audi Ferrari and Porsche) swept all top ten positions and
all four class wins at the 2003 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It was
the sixth consecutive overall victory for Michelin.
Michelin fitted Citroen, Peugeot and Ford teams scored ten victories in
2003 FIA World Rally Championship, including Michelin's 200th victory in WRC
competition as Citroen secured Michelin's 18th WRC manufacturer's
championship.
In MotoGP 500 cc competition, Michelin teams won all 16 races, including
Michelin's 300th victory and swept the top 10 positions in the series
championship.
Michelin manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including
airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty
trucks and the space shuttle. The company also publishes travel guides, maps
and atlases covering Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. Headquartered in
Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America (http://www.michelin.com ) employs 24,290
and operates 21 plants in 17 locations.
SOURCE Michelin
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Related links:
http://www.michelin.com
CONTACT:
Phil Romba of Michelin, +1-864-458-4511,
phil.romba@us.michelin.com ; or John Love, +1-313-449-0106,
john@emcpr.com , for Michelin
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