Bridgestone pledges fairness

With the return of the French company to grand prix racing, Bridgestone will have to undertake a development programme in 2000 to prepare itself for the challenge.

However, the Japanese firm has stated it will not penalise Williams this season - despite the risk of information being passed on to Michelin.

Bridgestone technical director Ashihiko Ichikawa admitted to AUTOSPORT magazine that it was a 'very difficult situation'.

But, he added: 'We are a little worried about it. If we do everything for them maybe it is a disadvantage to us.

'For racing and normal testing, we will be fair this year - that is our philosophy. But they will not do development tests.'

Michelin also plans to supply F1 entrant Toyota, which announced in December that it was making its grand prix debut a year earlier than originally planned in 2001.

The tyre's manufacturer's previous efforts in grand prix racing [1977-84] brought it 59 wins, three drivers' world titles and two manufacturers' world titles.

Despite such a long break from the category, Michelin's director of racing, Pierre Dupasquler, insisted in December that the firm would be up to speed in 2001.

'Even though we have not been competing in Formula One in recent years,' he said, 'Michelin has kept a close eye on the sport and its evolution.'

For more on this story, read this week's edition of AUTOSPORT magazine.