Michelin Has the Last Word in Brazil
After a distinctly variable season, Michelin has ended the Formula 1 year on a high note. The BMW William’s Juan Pablo Montoya said a fond farewell to the team by winning the Brazillian Grand Prix.
MOTORSPORT
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New Tyre for 2005 BTCC
Product NewsDunlop has launched a new tyre for the BTCC in 2005. The tyre will be made from the same compound and in the same size as those currently in use but will feature a stronger construction.
Bridgestone After Michelin Teams
Product NewsOnline motorsport news services are reporting that Williams, Renault and Toyota are all linked possible moves from Michelin to Bridgestone next season. According to the website Bridgestone has approached all six Michelin-shod Formula 1 teams, including McLaren, Jaguar and BAR. Williams, Renault and Toyota are believed to have responded with requests fore more information, according to British media sources. The source said Bridgestone wants at least one carmaker-backed Michelin team to switch camps and thus contribute to development of next year’s Formula 1 product.
New rules in 2005, requiring a Formula One tyre to have a longer life, will mean that the quality, and quantity, of this winter’s development will be even more crucial to success.
Bridgestone’s F1 Fan Club
MotorsportBridgestone is expecting more than a thousand of its employees to turn out and cheer on the Bridgestone equipped cars of Ferrari, Sauber, Jordan and Minardi, when the race at Suzuka next weekend.
Bridgestone Motorsport director, Hiroshi Yasukawa said a home grand prix is a rare chance for Japan-based staff to catch a closer glimpse of Formula One. “We aim to give them a good show,” he told the Home of F1 website. “Suzuka is renowned for being tough on tyres,” said the team’s technical manager Hisao Suganuma, “[but] we know the circuit well.”
Return of the Unipart Calender
Product NewsUnipart Automotive has announced the launch of a new marketing programme, designed to reposition Unipart’s place as an aftermarket brand.
Renault’s F1 Boss Questions Michelin
MotorsportRenault’s Formula 1 team boss, Flavio Briatore has put pressure on his team’s tyre supplier, Michelin. In a statement the French car manufacturer said that in 2005 the team would have a competitive team of drivers and that the only question mark would be over the tyres. Mr Briatore said that he likes the Michelin guys, but they still lag behind their Bridgestone rivals and must work harder.
Jaguar Pulls Out of F1
MotorsportJaguar is to pull out of Formula One at the end of 2004 and Ford’s engine maker Cosworth is also up for sale. F1 representatives believe this decision will have huge affects on the sport, which is under threat from carmakers seeking to establish a rival championship. The news certainly won’t be received well by Michelin, Jaguar’s F1 tyre supplier.
Joe Greenwell, chairman and CEO Jaguar and Land Rover said: Jaguar’s presence in Formula One has been a valuable marketing and brand awareness platform particularly outside our main markets of the US and the UK. However it was our collective view that it is time for Jaguar Cars to focus 100 per cent on our core business.”
It is thought that the company could no longer financially compete with rivals BMW and Mercedes, partners to Williams and McLaren. World champions Ferrari and new arrivals Toyota have estimated budgets in excess of $200 million a year. “It is so expensive to be successful in Formula One,” said Ford vice-president Richard Parry-Jones. “The money the sport generates is not distributed equitably to the various stakeholders,” he continued.
Tyre Change F1 Safety Phase?
MotorsportThe Federation Internationale de L’Automobile (FIA) wants to reduce the risk of sudden tyre punctures, caused by post collision shrapnel, German media sources are reporting. When fragments of damaged Formula 1 car lie on the track they pose a significant threat to tyres. The suggestion is that after a crash the safety car will collect all the cars into a formation and then bring the drivers to a standstill on a safe part of the course. When the track has been cleaned the race will start again. During this time the teams have the opportunity to examine their tyre for any damage. Tyre changes will be permitted if teams can prove that they are damaged.
Minardi Tyre Controversy
Product NewsWhile Rubens Barrichello was gaining pole position in preparation for his first win of the season, the Minardi Formula 1 team found itself at the centre of controversy. According to the ‘Home of F1’ online news service, Michelin Motorsport director, Pierre Dupasquier, has accused Minardi of stealing the remains of Jenson Button’s burst Michelin tyre. Mr Dupasquier alleges that the tyre was taken off a truck when Zsolt Baumgartner’s crashed Minardi was returned to pit lane, at the Belgian Grand Prix two weeks ago. The Minardi team, who run on Bridgestone tyres, have vehemently denied the accusation.
Kumho Tires Keen on Formula 1
Product NewsKumho Tire Corp has officially decided to take on the challenge of Formula 1, said company president, Sae-Chul Oh, during a Formula 3 Euro Series event.
Michelin go to Monza with Victory in Mind
Product NewsFresh from its recent success in the Belgian Grand Prix Michelin is preparing for this weekend’s Italian GP. With Formula One’s summer testing ban finally at an end, the company has spent some crucial time evaluating its tyre compounds at the Monza circuit.
The tyre manufacturer is confident that it will give a good performance this weekend as it has scored six of its 74 F1 grand prix victories at Monza, courtesy of Jody Scheckter (Ferrari, 1979), Alain Prost (Renault, 1981), René Arnoux (Renault, 1982), Nelson Piquet (Brabham-BMW, 1983), Niki Lauda (McLaren-TAG Turbo, 1984) and Juan Pablo Montoya (BMW WilliamsF1 Team, 2001). And according to the company pre-race testing at Monza went very well with Antonio Pizzonia setting the week’s fastest lap in his Williams-BMW.
Pierre Dupasquier, Michelin motorsport director commented: “During the recent tests at Monza, there were two incidents involving tyres: two rear tyres were damaged – and the pressure loss was accurately identified and measured by the on-board telemetry. Missing valve caps were clearly to blame on both occasions.
“This is another factor to add to the numerous theories that have been put forward since the spate of spectacular tyre incidents during the most recent race in Spa – where the inside edges of certain kerbs were suspected of having caused a few problems. So far, our internal investigations have produced nothing that could provide a clear technical reason. That’s good news in a way, because we have not been able to identify any technical errors on our part, but at the same time it is frustrating because we have not been able to reach any definitive technical conclusions.”
Pascal Vasselon, Michelin F1 programme manager added: “As at most circuits, tyre manufacturers have to deliver a compromise when finalising tyre compounds for Monza. Despite the loads imposed by ultra-quick corners such as the Parabolica, tyre wear isn’t physically excessive. Combined with the sustained high speeds down the long straights, this lack of wear generates significant tyre temperatures. Consequently, we can’t afford to run compounds that are too soft. We will bring four different dry-weather options to Monza. Michelin has performed very well at Monza in recent seasons and our encouraging testing form indicates that our engineers have struck the right balance once again.”
Group Tyre Team Win Michelin F1 Pitstop Challenge
MotorsportA team made up of tyre fitters from Elite Garages of Horsham and Broadway Tyres of High Wycombe demonstrated their high speed skills by winning Michelin F1 Pitstop Challenge at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Michelin Suggests Sharp Kerb Caused Blowout
Product NewsOnly a matter of days after Michelin said it will launch an enquiry into the events of the Belgian Grand Prix, the F1 tyre supplier has suggested a reason why its tyres appeared to fail.
BMW Motorsport Director Concerned About F1 Tyres
MotorsportDr Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport director, has raised concerns about the increasing amount of tyre damage that is taking place on the Grand Prix circuit.
Free Tyre Choice In Formula 1?
Product NewsIn a strange request, Pierre Dupasquier, head of Michelin Motorsport, suggested that Formula 1 teams should not only be able to use any rubber compound, but also be free to choose which manufacturer’s products they will use. The proposal would give teams the freedom to decide from race to race whether to use Michelin or Bridgestone tyres.
