Michelin Enters FIM World Endurance Championship

The FIM World Endurance Championship will this year, for the first time, be contested by a bike wearing Michelin colours. The French manufacturer states that the entry of the motorcycle, under the ‘Michelin Power Research Team’ name, breaks new ground in the company’s competition history.

The team’s blue Honda CBR 1000 RR will carry the number 63 – the number given to France’s Puy de Dôme region or ‘department’ (the home to Michelin’s headquarters in Clermont-Ferrand) – and will be shared by test drivers William Costes, Hugo Marchand and Josep Monge. The Michelin Power Research Team bike will be prepared and run by Honda dealer Jean-François Daffix and his team, which is based in Aubière near Clermont-Ferrand.

The outfit will be managed by former endurance specialist Alex Vieira, who has five Le Mans 24 Hours wins and six victories in the Bol d’Or under his belt. Vieira is the most successful rider in the history of the Le Mans 24 Hours.

“The Michelin Power Research Team’s mission is focused on research and its chief aim is to collect as much technical data as possible which can then be used to improve the design and development of Michelin’s commercially available tyres,” says Jean-Philippe Weber, manager of Michelin Competition’s two-wheel activities, explaining the company’s decision to enter this year’s event. “The objective of the test team is to gather information in race conditions with our test riders who also do private testing work.

“A second goal is to evaluate the range of conditions in which our different tyres work,” adds Weber. “This is essential in 24-hour races where stints generally last around an hour and during which track temperatures can range from zero to 40°C. This allows us to compete directly with our rivals.

Weber says that Michelin’s involvement in the championship will also enable it to develop tyres that better match the needs of riders. “Endurance racing allows us to get a better understanding of the concerns of our customers who are today moving on to the new Michelin Power One which was launched in Portimao, Portugal, on March 9. Endurance racing is complementary to sprint races and enables us to get close to our customers.

“Victory isn’t the overriding goal,” Weber notes. “Above all, we want to make full use of the data and reach the finish of every race. The message to our riders is clear: they shouldn’t take any unconsidered risks just to win. However, as is the case with any team involved in racing, a podium finish is always a nice reward for the efforts put in by all those involved in the operation and serves to strengthen bonds within the team.”

The Michelin Power Research Team will make its debut at the opening round of the 2009 FIM World Endurance Championship, the Le Mans 24 Hours on the weekend of April 18-19. This particular event utilises the French venue’s Bugatti circuit.