A win for their last WRC event
Since 1973, Michelin has taken 224 world class wins in rallying (including 24 with the Citroën Xsara WRC!). It opened its scorecard in January 1973 thanks to the success of Jean- Claude Andruet (Renault-Alpine) on the Monte Carlo Rally and rounded off its record with Duval`s win this weekend in Australia. In between time, Michelin tyres have won across the planet, over all the types of terrain and in all the conditions encountered in World Championship rallying.

38 titles
In association with a long list of prestigious team and driver partners, Michelin tyres has secured no fewer than 38 world rally titles (20 Drivers, 18 Manufacturers). Tommi Mäkinen was the most successful driver with Michelin (23 wins), although Sébastien Loeb (20 wins) was catching fast. On the Manufacturers` front, Peugeot and Michelin have won 46 wins together, while the Tour of Corsica was Michelin`s most successful hunting ground ( 22 wins), just ahead of the Swedish Rally (20 wins).

Evolution and revolution
Although tyres evolve consistently from one year to the next in rallying, revolutions are rare. In 1973, Michelin revolutionised world rallying with the introduction of both the first slick tyre (asphalt) and its famous Nora tyre (gravel). In 1987, Michelin became the first tyre firm to introduce the ATS system (Appui Temporaire Souple, or Temporary Flexible Support) which allows drivers to finish – and even win – stages even with a puncture. October 1998 saw the launch of the `FP` generation of asphalt tyres which have since won practically every asphalt round of the championship. Finally, this year saw the introduction of the Michelin Z BTO which took world class rallying by storm, contributing significantly to the success of Michelin drivers and teams on gravel, with a total score of 8 wins from 11 gravel rounds in 2005.

BFGoodrich and motorsport
Motorsport is a fundamental part of BFGoodrich`s DNA . For more than thirty years, BFGoodrich tyres have been the benchmark in off-road competition. They have also won the celebrated Pikes Peak hill climb, the Daytona 24 Hours, the Dakar Rally (five consecutive wins with Mitsubishi) and the FIA Cross Country World Cup (2005 title winners with Volkswagen). WRC testing with BFGoodrich tyres begins early December 2005.


Tags: tyres, australia, michelin, gravel, competition,