Q & A: Michelin on WRC plans
Michelin has revealed to AUTOSPORT that it is looking to return to the World Rally Championship next year after a six-season absence, with the FIA's decision to allow open tyre competition in the series again giving the French firm a new opportunity
The French firm's competition director Nick Shorrock explained Michelin's plans to AUTOSPORT.
Q. Presumably you have spoken to Citroen, Ford and Prodrive, how has your potential return been received?
Nick Shorrock: We have spoken to all three and they have expressed different concerns. One of those is about the treatment of partners. If we have more than one partner next season, both would be treated absolutely fairly. That's the modus operandi of Michelin. It's absolutely vital that we do this, nobody will get special treatment.
Q. There's an assumption that an association with Citroen is a given. Is that a fair assumption?
NS: The link between the supplier to a competition department and the supplier of original equipment is more of a social link these days. The days of it being as given that, if you supply road car tyres you're going to be putting the tyres on the competition cars are over. It's about compatibility on both sides [for Michelin and Citroen].
Q. We hear you have been testing this week?
NS: We have been testing rally tyres, but not specifically for the World Rally Championship. We have a very strong connection with rally as a whole, through the IRC [Intercontinental Rally Challenge] and through national and regional championships and we're always looking to develop those products.
Q. Can you understand the fears about the potential for rising costs if we get back into a tyre war in the WRC?
NS: We hope to encourage people more in the direction of open competition. We can maintain managed costs and that comes through the way the rules are set up and the way the rules are allowed to develop.
The competition side is very important for Michelin to demonstrate its technical prowess. The tyre competition is a strong point of the IRC and we haven't seen a cost explosion in that series; the [car] manufacturers and we like open competition in rally. As a company we are always looking for ways to develop our competence in competition.
Q. A return to the WRC would mean a return to the global stage for Michelin. How important is it to be back at the front line of world competition?
NS: Any competition we are involved in, we look to be successful in our supply of product to partners.
Be part of the Autosport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
The outrageous mountain-climbers that became Pikes Peak legends
Ranking lost WRC legend Richard Burns' 10 best rallies
What to expect from the WRC's venture to the Arctic
WRC looking to add F1-style team radio to TV broadcasts
Newey set to leave Red Bull F1 team
Alonso laments "game of who can run less" in F1 sprint event practice
F1 24: New features for revamped career mode include icon drivers, two-player mode
The eight minutes of madness that saw Ogier strike in Croatia
How Rovanpera showed his class above his WRC rivals in Kenya
How a new 'old' challenge is capturing the spirit of British rallying lore
How Lappi survived Swedish snow carnage to snap his lengthy WRC drought
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments