China prepares to stage its first world championship Grand Prix this week as it hosts Formula One for the first time. The 5.451km (3.387-mile) Shanghai International Circuit is the second new venue to appear on the 2004 calendar, after Bahrain. The race is scheduled to last 56 laps; a total distance of 305.256km.

Although Michelin is confident it will perform well, Shanghai will highlight the ability of Formula One teams to react to new situations. Pascal Vasselon, Michelin’s F1 programme manager commented: “Given our experience in Bahrain earlier this year, choosing tyres for a previously unknown circuit such as Shanghai might appear quite routine – but that’s not the case at all. Certain corners at Shanghai have a unique configuration and two of them – which have an almost snail-like profile when viewed from above – are likely to put a greater load on tyres than anywhere else on the calendar.

“Generally, we expect the rate of wear to be fairly even left to right and front to rear, which makes things a little bit easier. From what we can see, the track surface looks fairly smooth and non- abrasive – another little difficulty we had to factor in when finalising the best tyre compromise. When you encounter a new circuit like this, with lots of directional changes, it is best to select compounds that have a slightly broader operational spectrum than usual. And to further minimise any risk of error, we will be taking tyres that have previously been used in racing conditions.”