Manufacturers Choose to Race With Michelin

Top Formula One, Le Mans, FIA World Rally Championship and Motorcycles ride on Michelin(R) tires

DETROIT, Jan. 7 -- 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 (www.michelin.com ) employs 24,290 and operates 21 plants in 17 locations.