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MANUFACTURERS: Michelin heads to Europe for LeMans, Silverstone & Nurburgring

4 May 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Audi, Panoz, Dodge Viper, Porsche and Others To Ride On Michelin Pilot Radials

(Greenville, S.C.) - After scoring its first-ever overall victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona and its second consecutive victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring earlier this year, Michelin heads to Europe for a trio of races, including the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans in June. Michelin will be attempting to capture its third consecutive overall win at Le Mans, its sixth in the past nine years.

Prior to Le Mans, Michelin teams will be competing in the Silverstone 500/USA Challenge, the inaugural European Le Mans Series event at Silverstone in England on May 13. After Le Mans, Michelin teams will head to Germany's Nurburgring for a 1000k event on July 9.

"We've won Daytona and we've won Sebring," said Herb Johnson, Director of Motorsports, Michelin North America. "Now it's time to head to Le Mans.

"Plus, we'll have one more chance to gear up for Le Mans with the race at Silverstone. With its tight, twisty corners, Silverstone is very different than Le Mans. But several of the Michelin teams at Le Mans will also be at Silverstone, so it'll be one more opportunity to get ready for the biggest endurance race in the world."

Among the favorites at Silverstone and Le Mans will be the Michelin-shod Audi team, winner of the 12 Hours of Sebring in March. Driven by Allan McNish, Audi topped the speed charts in practice at Le Mans this past weekend. In addition, Panoz, Rafanelli and Team Pole will compete at Silverstone on Michelin Pilot radials.

As they have since their introduction in the early 1990s, Team Oreca's Dodge Vipers, overall and class winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona in February, will ride on Michelins at Silverstone and Le Mans. Viper and Michelin will be aiming for their third consecutive GTS victory at Le Mans.

In the GT category, Dick Barbour Racing will field a Porsche GT3-R at Silverstone and Le Mans. Barbour-prepared cars have won their category at Sebring and the most recent American Le Mans Series event at Charlotte, NC. Alex Job Racing will field a pair of Porsches at Silverstone.

In all, 11 cars will ride on Michelin tires at Silverstone while the balance of the field will compete on Goodyear, Pirelli, Yokohama and Dunlop tires.

"We're looking forward to the races in Europe," concluded Johnson. "The winning tires will have to be durable and consistent. They will have to be technologically superior. We are confident that our winning streak dating back to Le Mans last year can hold up."

Michelin manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks and the space shuttle. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America (www.michelin.com) employs 27,000 and operates 23 plants in 21 locations.

Text provided by Chris Kuechenmeister

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