Michelin takes first ERC Winning Tyre award

Michelin is the first recipient of the Winning Tyre of the FIA European Rally Championship, an initiative introduced to highlight the achievements of the ERC’s four official tyre manufacturers, Hankook, Michelin, MRF and Pirelli. The ERC Winning Tyre accolade goes to the manufacturer whose products equip the victorious crew at each event.

At last weekend’s Rally Islas Canarias, Yoann Bonato and Benjamin Boulloud triumphed in a CHL Sport Auto-run Citroën C3 Rally2 on Michelin tyres. After setting the fastest time on seven out of 13 stages to finish the event with a winning margin of 36.9sec, Bonato was quick to praise the work of Michelin and the vital role it performed in helping him to his second ERC victory.

Perfect hard compound

“The Michelin tyres are very good,” said Bonato. “The hard compound tyre was new for this event, and it was really perfect, we also expect it will be just as good in Roma, the next event on Tarmac. The medium tyre that we used in the wet conditions of the morning loop [on Saturday], this was also good, and we could set some good times. But all the tyres from Michelin are good and we can be very pleased.”

Bonato continued: “Except for the weather maybe, it was the perfect weekend, a beautiful rally with a very good team, car and tyres. Everything we did we did well so we can be happy, and it was very nice to drive on these incredible roads. We expected a good result, maybe a podium, but we didn’t expect to win with so many fastest stage times.”

Behind Bonato, Hayden Paddon finished second in a Pirelli-equipped Hyundai i20 N Rally2 with Efrén Llarena third driving a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 for Team MRF Tyres.

The 2023 ERC season continues at the 79th Rally Poland from 19 – 21 May when the first Winning Tyre award will be presented for a gravel event.