Michelin will supply tyres and associated services for the inaugural Asian Le Mans Series, having been selected after a process open to all tyre manufacturers.
Michelin’s involvement in the Asian Le Mans Series will see the French company look to consolidate and reinforce its footing in Asia due to the growth of the Asian market and shifts in its approach to motoring.
“The interest of Asian motorists in cars and their demands are evolving very quickly,” said Director of Michelin’s four-wheel motorsport programmes Serge Grisin. “The culture of motorsport, which has long been deeply rooted in Japan and South Korea, is today developing in China. Michelin sees motorsport as an opportunity to demonstrate the qualities of its tyres to this new generation of enthusiasts who demand both safety and performance. We are notably targeting those who make pleasure one of the prime factors in their relationship with their vehicle”.
“Thanks to its exacting technical regulations which are coherent with those of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the Asian Le Mans Series is a great showcase to illustrate the benefits of the Michelin Total Performance plan at a very high level. This plan is core to the Group’s research and development strategy and consists in using unique technologies to develop tyres that deliver high performance in all areas, even in those which are frequently seen as irreconcilable”.
Michelin will provide a service to all teams at each of the six rounds of the series with technicians on hand to help drivers with tyre choices, while at the same time providing analysis of how the tyres perform in races dependant on car, track profile and driving style for Michelin.
“We are delighted to have Michelin on-board with us for this season which is very important for the development of the Asian Le Mans Series,” says Managing Director of Asian Endurance Operating Company Ltd, licensee of the Asian Le Mans Series, Mark Thomas. “Michelin can claim an unrivalled commitment, experience and record in endurance racing. I am sure its contribution will satisfy the 2013 field which is particularly rich, not merely in numbers but also in terms of the cars and drivers who will be competing. Our sporting regulations call for versatile tyres and quantities will be restricted to six sets per round. Furthermore, in association with Michelin, our wish is to preclude the use of development tyres, so we asked our tyre supplier to supply high technology products which are as close as possible to production tyres”.
