Michelin renews Formula E partnership, working on all-new tyre

Three seasons of exclusive tyre supply to the FIA Formula E Championship are already under Michelin’s belt and a fourth begins tomorrow. We can look forward to at least four more years of Michelin supply to the electric race series as well; the tyre maker and the FIA have announced an extension of the supply agreement up to the end of the 2020/21 season. Furthermore, while the Pilot Sport EV2 tyre launched at the start of season three returns for 2017/18, the French manufacturer confirms it is already working on tyres for the new-look next generation car, which will make its debut a year from now in season five.

“Season five will mark the start of the exciting next generation of the FIA Formula E Championship, and I’m pleased to see that Michelin will continue to be a part of this journey as the official tyre supplier,” says Jean Todt, FIA president. “Since the championship began, Michelin has shown a commitment to technical innovation, developing racing tyres with a clear focus on sustainability, efficiency and road relevance as well as performance. I look forward to continuing this collaboration over the coming years in the competitive environment of the FIA Formula E Championship.”

Alejandro Agag, founder and chief executive officer of Formula E, adds: “I’m so pleased to continue our long-standing partnership with Michelin as the first partner to commit to the series. Michelin believed in the concept of the championship since before day one, sharing our vision as an innovative platform to test and develop technology for future road vehicles. Formula E is about forward-thinking and Michelin has built a tyre specific to our needs, but also relevant to the everyday cars we drive at home. I’m looking forward to working closely with Michelin until the end of season seven and beyond.”

As one of the founding partners of the electric street racing series, Michelin has supplied tyres to the teams and competitors since the inaugural season in 2014. Michelin was tasked with creating bespoke treaded tyres in an 18-inch rim diameter that were suitable for use in both wet and dry conditions.

“With the championship now on the eve of its fourth campaign, we are delighted to confirm that we have extended our relationship as Formula E’s sole tyre-supplier until at least the end of Season 7,” comments Pascal Couasnon, director of Michelin Motorsport. “Michelin believed in the FIA Formula E Championship from the beginning and joined this new discipline as a founding partner, Today, after only three seasons, Formula E has become a platform of innovation and communication chosen by the most important brands of the world. The contribution of Formula E to the evolution of the automobile is obvious and Michelin wants to move forward with the FIA, Alejandro Agag and his teams, as well as with all manufacturers, on the path of sustainable mobility. Michelin is therefore delighted to continue its collaboration with Formula E beyond season five, until 2021. Thus, after having developed innovations such as the first highly energy efficient 18-inch competition tyres for single-seaters, Michelin will continue its research and technology transfer work during the coming seasons.”