SPONSOR REPORTS (LE MANS) - MICHELIN'S VICTORY AT LE MANS

In front of over 250 000 spectators Audi Sport and Michelin dominated the 75th 24 Hours of Le Mans.

This will be a memorable day in the motor sport history as the two partners demonstrated the diesel technology dominance over the world's most difficult endurance race. Michelin was able met the challenge lanced by Audi and secured their 10th straight victory in the Sarthe.

This was the manufacturers' 16th victory in this most difficult but prestigious endurance race.

Michelin and Audi Sport are celebrating together another success after two years of close collaboration.

Their secret? Confidence

At the close of the 75th 24 Hours of Le Mans, 100 Michelin employees left the circuit satisfied in knowing that they had succeeded. Their efforts had helped secure Audi's victory for the second consecutive year and were proud to have successfully fulfilled their mission.

These seasons' performances are the direct result of the close relation between the tyre manufacturer and Audi Sport.

Frédéric Henry -Biabaud, Michelin Competition Director « We knew just how crucial this 75ème 24 Hours of Le Mans was for us especially after our decision to pull out of Formula 1. We had to demonstrate through our products success that our commitment to motor sport competition was for us vital and strategic. We have also been able to strengthen the support of our long term partners through Endurance racing, notably with the mystique 24 Hours of Le Mans. This event is a showcase for our values: Performance, performance consistency and length. The task at hand was remarkably well done and the glowing compliments from our partners where the best recompense for the Michelin group and its team. »

Along side its partners, Michelin improved their reactivity, work methods, and reinforced a mutual respect for one another.

The key to Success?

« In my opinion there are three major factors to succeed in competition: competence, experience, and motivation.» explained Matthieu.

« Competence: We have this in our development and testing teams which we heavily depend on. Experience: One could not possibly expect results if you did not use the experience gained in achieving them to progress. Motivation: This is indispensable, as you have to surround yourself with competitive men who want to succeed and who give the very best of themselves. »

Michelin and Le Mans - A world of open competition

Questions to Matthieu Bonardel - Competitions manager of 4-wheel activities

Michelin knows that it can never take the Le Mans success for granted. Developing the performance, durability and consistency of its complete range for this 24-hour classic is a complex, yearlong activity, with different priorities for each category, and even for the individual cars. Michelin's endurance programme engineers, technicians and production staff have also had to respond to the particularly strong demand for its products: this year, the Clermont-Ferrand firm supplied practically 70 per cent of the field compared with a little over half in 2006. Michelin's Matthieu Bonardel talks about his squad's preparations and the challenges it has faced during the build-up and the race to this year's queen of all endurance races…

What is so special about the Le Mans 24 Hours for Michelin and what is your objective for 2007?

"Performance and durability for our products" Matthieu Bonardel: "Le Mans is one of the world's great races, possibly the greatest. It also one of the few world class fixtures that still permit open competition between tyre manufacturers and where the regulations dictate few restrictions on the tyre front. As ever, our main objective is victory, but we also wanted to prove that the top teams in all four categories have chosen Michelin not only for the outright performance of our products but also for their durability and for the overall service we provide.

"Each year we set ourselves new objectives for every category" "Le Mans continues to stand out as an exacting technical challenge in our field and the latest-generation prototypes make ever higher demands of our tyres in both absolute and endurance terms. In such a highly competitive arena, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels and each year we set ourselves new objectives for every category and even for individual cars. These objectives can relate to the consistency of our tyres over one, two or more stints, for example, to their performance or to their resistance to the different constraints associated with this unique race."

What were your main ambitions this year?

« To succeed the maximum amount of stints on one set of tyres » « This year our greatest progress was made in our increase in stints for the GT1 and GT2 categories. As for the prototypes it meant becoming actively involved in the battle between Audi and Peugeot. A positive battle for it unquestionably raised the level of technology and expectations for our tyres, including their performance and durability. Our greatest progress was made in the ability to improve in numerous aspects. Audi and Peugeot expectations were very high, much greater than last year. But we were able to plan ahead, to consult with our partners in order to avoid any surprises. »

Teams are free to choose their tyre partner. What makes Michelin stand out from its rivals?

Without this expert advice, we might have ruined the work of several teams » "Our record both at Le Mans and in the different associated championships and series shows that our tyres are competitive and this is probably what first prompts teams to contact us. But I like to think that what makes them stay with us year after year is the standard of the global service we provide, our ability to listen to their needs and develop carefully tailored solutions, as well as the quality of the advice that our engineers and technicians are in a position to give them thanks to our long experience in the discipline. Our advice was precious this year. The weather conditions forced us to change tyres more frequently, anticipate more, and depend on our technicians' experience. Without this expert advice we might have ruined the work of several teams. »

The 2007 Le Mans 24 Hours saw the arrival of Peugeot as one of the key challengers to Audi's recent run of success. In tyre terms, from how much carry-over has the 908 HDi FAP benefited compared with the Audi R10 project? How much do the products developed for the two teams differ?

"Every team has access to the same technology" "In Peugeot's case, we were able to incorporate the tyre factor into the equation from the very design stage. The 908's weight distribution, for example, was engineered to optimise its balance and consequently tyre performance. With Audi, it was the other way round. We were given the R10's key features and then adapted our products around them. "At the beginning of the year we used the same solutions for both cars. They functioned perfectly on the 908 which responded well to the existing range, but there will doubtlessly be detail specification differences in the tyres raced by Audi and Peugeot at Le Mans. We were able to undertake a certain amount work on the performance front with Peugeot, although that wasn't really the priority duringtheir build-up to Le Mans, while our collaboration has obviously continued at full pace with Audi, too. "The other teams have had access to the same technology, with compounds adapted as a function of their car's weight distribution and downforce characteristics."

You say you set yourselves different challenges in all the categories at Le Mans. Can you tell us a little about what they have been for this year's race?

"Optimise the balance between two essentially opposing parameters: endurance and performance." "As with any racing tyre, our ongoing mission is to optimise the balance between two essentially opposing parameters: endurance and performance. All other things being equal, an improvement in one of these areas will theoretically lead to a fall-off in the other. Our grail is therefore to find ways of pushing out the performance envelope of a given tyre without that being to the detriment of durability, and vice-versa.

"In reality, we tend to progress in an upward spiral: improved performance, then durability, then performance again, etc. Where we stand in this loop may differ in each category. But due to the vastness of our range, 7 to 8 different products by category, it means that we can find ourselves looking at twenty different problems at any given time.

Does this require a lot of work prior to the event?

« Capitalise on our involvement in other championships » « Of course it's the development that requires at least a year of preparation prior to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. We use our previous years experience as our foundation for this edition. Perpetual circles of development are created slowly but surely and we learn from our experiences, be they victory or defeat. There is also a responsibility in forming the teams for the various championships we are involved in. The personnel during the 24 Hours of Le Mans last week-end came from the entire Michelin group: Australia, America, Asia and across Europe. These people's contributions were extremely appreciated by our partners and by the Michelin group.»

What are your next plans?

« In about a month we are going to concentrate on future developments » « In the short term we are going to follow on the championships running in Europe and in America. In about 15 days we are going to be collaborating with the same partners we had in Le Mans last Sunday. In a months time we will attack our 2008 developments. Testing is going to take up most of September, and we are going to have to take advantage of our experiences in 2007 in order to prepare for the future.»

Michelin's Le Mans record

Landmark dates…

From the historic victory of André Lagache and René Léonard (Chenard & Walcker) in the inaugural Le Mans 24 Hours back in 1923, to the first win for a diesel-powered car with Audi in 2006, Michelin's successful presence in the world's most prestigious endurance race spans more than 80 years...

1923 - Michelin's first win Michelin wins the very first Le Mans 24 Hours with André Lagache and René Léonard in a 2,978cc Chenard & Walcker at an average speed of more than 90kph round a circuit of 17km in length.

1965 - Michelin's return to Le Mans Michelin's first participation in the modern Le Mans 24 Hours, with an Alpine-Renault and a DB/CD.

1967 - New slick tyres Michelin innovates with the first slick tyres ever raced at Le Mans (Alpine-Renault A210).

1978 - An all-French win Victory for Michelin with Didier Pironi and Jean-Pierre Jaussaud in an Alpine-Renault A442B.

1989 - A Michelin one-two Victory and one-two finish for Michelin with the two Sauber-Mercedes driven by Jochen Mass/ Manuel Reuter/Stanley Dickens, and Mauro Baldi/Kenny Acheson/Gianfranco Brancatelli.

1992 - A second one-two finish for Michelin Victory and a one-two finish for Michelin with the Peugeot 905 driven by Derek Warwick/Yannick Dalmas/Mark Blundell and the Toyota TS 010 driven by Pierre-Henri Raphanel/Masanori Sekiya/Kenny Acheson.

1993 - An all-Michelin podium Peugeot enters three 905-Michelins and claims the top-three places. Victory for the Franco-Australian driver line-up of Geoff Brabham/Christophe Bouchut/Eric Hélary.

1995 - Victory in the rain Victory for Michelin with Yannick Dalmas/JJ. Lehto/Masanori Sekiya driving a McLaren F1 GTR BMW after a brilliant performance in wet conditions. The WR-Michelin secures the first pole position for a single-seater open-top sportscar at Le Mans and the Debora-Michelin takes victory in the LMP2 category.

1996 - Victory for Michelin in GT1 and GT2 Victory for Michelin in GT1 (2nd overall) with Yannick Dalmas/Hans Stuck/Thierry Boutsen in the works Porsche GT1. Victory for Michelin in GT2 with Ralf Kelleners/Bruno Eichmann/Guy Martinolle in the Roock Racing Porsche GT2.

1997 - GT1 honours again for Michelin Victory for Michelin in GT1 (2nd overall) with Pierre-Henri Raphanel/Jean-Marc Gounon/Anders Olofsson in a McLaren F1 GTR.

1998 - A one-two finish for Porsche-Michelin Victory and one-two finish for Michelin with the two Porsche 911 GT1s driven by Alan McNish/Laurent Aïello/Stéphane Ortelli and Jorg Müller/Uwe Alzen/Bob Wollek. Victory and one-two finish for Michelin in GT2 with two Chrysler Viper GTS-Rs driven by Justin Bell/David Donohue/Luca Drudi and Olivier Beretta/Pedro Lamy/Thomas Archer.

1999 - The top four places for Michelin A memorable one-two-three-four finish for Michelin with BMW (Yannick Dalmas/Joachim Winkelhock/Pierluigi Martini) ahead of Toyota (2nd) and Audi (3rd and 4th). Michelin also won the GTS category with the Oreca-run Chrysler Viper GTS-R of Olivier Beretta/Karl Wendlinger/Dominique Dupuy.

2000 - Michelin runners monopolise the podium From the qualification sessions to the final flag, Audi's trio led the entire time. The Michelin-shod R8 of Frank Biela/Tom Kristensen/Emanuele Pirro finished first ahead of Laurent Aïello/Alan McNish/Stéphane Ortelli followed by Michele Alboreto/Christian Abt/Rinaldo Capello. Victory for Michelin in LMGTS with the Chrysler Viper Oreca driven by Olivier Berretta, Karl Wendlinger and Dominique Dupuy.

2001 - Awesome conditions It had been many years since the weather in the La Sarthe region of France was as bad as it was for the 2001 race. The event was marked by showers and downpours which forced competitors to make frequent, unscheduled tyre changes. Amid all the difficulties, Frank Biela, Tom Kristensen and Emanuele Pirro (Audi R8/Michelin) emerged triumphant ahead of the sister car driven by Laurent Aïello, Rinaldo Capello and Christian Pescatori. Adding to Michelin's successful weekend, the ROC Auto Reynard of Jean -Denis Delétraz, Pascal Fabre and Jordi Gené won the LMP 675 class. This brilliant result rewarded the hard work put in by the entire Michelin team which had been besieged for information throughout the event because of the treacherous conditions.

2002 - A hat-trick for Audi-Michelin Another excellent year for the French firm's tyres with a third consecutive Le Mans win for Audi, Michelin and the same driver line-up (Kristensen/Pirro/Biela), a first in the history of the event. Audi-Michelin monopolised the podium to secure its second one-two-three success in three years. It was also a one-two finish for Michelin in the LMP675 category - won by the Reynard Lehmann of Deletraz/Lechner/Pillon - while the Porsche GT3-Michelin of Buckler/Luhr/Bernhard triumphed in the LMGT class.

2003 - Bentley-Michelin, 79 years on Pole position, fastest race lap and a one-two finish for Bentley-Michelin. Two years after its return to the endurance racing scene, Bentley dominated the 80th anniversary Le Mans 24 Hours to secure its sixth win in La Sarthe, 79 years after its maiden success in the French classic! It was also a highly fruitful weekend for its new partner Michelin whose tyres not only picked up their twelfth Le Mans victory but also took top spot in every category. In the wake of the Bentley-Michelins of Kristensen/Capello/Smith and Blundell/Brabham/Herbert, the Audi R8-Michelin of Lehto/Pirro/Johansson made it an all-VAG, all-Michelin podium. Indeed, Michelin runners monopolised the top-ten positions overall at the flag...

2004 - A record-breaking win for Kristensen (Audi-Michelin) Tom Kristensen equalled Jacky Ickx's Le Mans record of six wins. Sharing the Japanese Team Goh car with Seiji Ara and Rinaldo Capello, the Dane took command on the Sunday morning when its sister car (UK Veloxq, Herbert/Davies/Smith) was forced to pit for a suspension wishbone change. Despite a big accident after two hours' racing, the third Audi driven by Lehto/Werner/Pirro fought back to finish on the podium to give Audi-Michelin a third Le Mans hat-trick. In the LMGTS category, the Corvette C5R and

Michelin tyres picked up their first win together at Le Mans. Its clash with Ferrari-Michelin proved particularly fierce and, just hours before the end of the race, the top two cars were split by a mere 8 seconds! Corvette-Michelin ended up securing a one-two finish, while Michelin also won the LMGT class with the Porsche of Maasen/Bergmeister/Long.

2005 - Kristensen (Audi-Michelin) takes his seventh Le Mans success The Audi of Tom Kristensen/JJ. Lehto/Marco Werner and Michelin tyres took victory in the longest (in distance terms) motor race in history. The N°3 Audi took command just after the beginning of the third hour and, thanks to its metronomic reliability and impeccable reliability, controlled the other Audis and the Pescarolo-Michelins from in front until the finish. Tom Kristensen fulfilled his dream to become the most successful driver at Le Mans by collecting his seventh win. Despite the searing heat that marked the weekend, Michelin drivers monopolised the top six places at the finish to give the French firm its 14th Le Mans success, its 8th in a row. Michelin tyres also won the LMGT1 and LMP2 categories with Corvette and Lola MG respectively.

2006 - First ever diesel win makes Le Mans history Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro and Marco Werner scored a landmark victory as Audi succeeded in its bold bid to win the world's most demanding endurance race with diesel technology. Michelin rose to the challenge in style too to join its partner on top of the podium. In addition to its ninth consective victory at Le Mans, the French tyre firm was also successful in the LMGT1 category with Chevrolet Corvette and in LMP2 with the RML-run Lola, while Michelin runners monopolised the top thirteen places at the finish.

Le Mans 24 Hours winners 16 VICTORIES FOR MICHELIN - 10TH STRAIGHT VICTORY

2007 Biela / Piero / Werner - Audi-Michelin 2006 Biela / Piero / Werner - Audi-Michelin 2005 Kristensen/Lehto/Werner - Audi-Michelin 2004 Kristensen/Ara/Capello - Audi-Michelin 2003 Kristensen/Capello/Smith - Bentley-Michelin 2002 Biela/Kristensen/Pirro - Audi-Michelin 2001 Biela/Kristensen/Pirro - Audi-Michelin 2000 Biela/Kristensen/Pirro - Audi-Michelin 1999 Winkelhock/Martini/Dalmas - BMW-Michelin 1998 McNish/Aiello/Ortelli - Porsche-Michelin 1997 Alboreto/Johansson/Kristensen - TWR Porsche 1996 Reuter/Jones/Wurz - TWR Porsche 1995 Dalmas/Lehto/Sekiya - McLaren-BMW-Michelin 1994 Dalmas/Haywood/Baldi - Dauer Porsche 1993 Brabham/Bouchut/Hélary - Peugeot-Michelin 1992 Warwick/Dalmas/Blundell - Peugeot-Michelin 1991 Gachot/Herbert/Weidler - Mazda 1990 Brundle/Nielsen/Cobb - Jaguar 1989 Mass/Dickens/Reuter - Sauber-Mercedes-Michelin 1988 Lammers/Dumfries/Wallace - Jaguar 1987 Bell/Stuck/Holbert - Porsche 1986 Bell/Stuck/Holbert - Porsche 1985 Ludwig/Barilla/Winter - Porsche 1984 Pescarolo/Ludwig - Porsche 1983 Holbert/Haywood/Schuppan - Porsche 1982 Ickx/Bell - Porsche 1981 Ickx/Bell - Porsche

1980 Rondeau/Jaussaud - Rondeau Ford 1979 Ludwig/Whittington/Whittington - Porsche 1978 Pironi/Jaussaud - Renault-Alpine-Michelin 1977 Barth/Haywood/Ickx - Porsche 1976 Ickx/Van Lennep - Porsche 1975 Ickx/Bell - Mirage-Ford 1974 Pescarolo/Larrousse - Matra-Simca 1973 Pescarolo/Larrousse - Matra-Simca 1972 Pescarolo/Hill - Matra-Simca 1971 Marko/Van Lennep - Porsche 1970 Attwood/Herrman - Porsche 1969 Ickx/Olliver - Ford 1968 Rodriguez/Bianchi - Ford 1967 Gurney/Foyt - Ford 1966 Amon/McLaren - Ford 1965 Masten/Rindt - Ferrari 1964 Guichet/Vaccarella - Ferrari 1963 Scarfiotti/Bandini - Ferrari 1962 Gendebien/Hill - Ferrari 1961 Gendebien/Hill - Ferrari 1960 Frère/Gendebien - Ferrari 1959 Salvadori/Shelby - Aston Martin 1958 Hill/Gendebien - Ferrari 1957 Flockhart/Bueb - Jaguar 1956 Flckhart/Sanderson - Jaguar 1955 Hawthorn/Bueb - Jaguar 1954 Gonzales/Trintignant - Ferrari 1953 Rolt/Hamilton - Jaguar 1952 Lang/Riess - Mercedes-Benz 1951 Walker/Whitehead - Jaguar 1950 Rosier/Rosier - Talbot 1949 Selsdon/Chinetti - Ferrari 1939 Wimille/Veyron - Bugatti 1938 Chaboud/Trémoulet - Delahaye 1937 Wimille/Benoist - Bugatti 1935 Hindmarsh/Fontes - Lagonda 1934 Chinetti/Etancelin - Alfa Romeo 1933 Nuvolari/Sommer - Alfa Romeo 1932 Sommer/Chinetti - Alfa Romeo 1931 Howe/Birkin - Alfa Romeo 1930 Barnato/Kidston - Bentley 1929 Barnato/Birkin - Bentley 1928 Barnato/Rubin - Bentley 1927 Benjafield/Davis - Bentley 1926 Bloch/Rossignol - Lorraine Dietrich 1925 De Courcelles/Rossignol - Lorraine Dietrich 1924 Duff/Clément - Bentley 1923 Lagache/Léonard - Chenard & Walcker-Michelin