Michelin sets its sights on back-to-back WRC wins

After dominating the 2011 World Rally Championship, Michelin are are back with a single goal: to take victory at the 2012 championship.

The 2012 season kicks off this weekend with the Rallye Monte-Carlo.

In the short two months since the last round of the 2011 WRC - Rally GB - several new advances in FIA competition regulations have taken place to stress the importance of tyre strategy and management, while reducing racing costs and balancing the competition.

The key changes are:

- A 20 percent reduction in the number of tyres each crew may use during the course of an event

- The option for teams to use two types of tyres on gravel grounds

Along with the goal of winning the 2012 Rallye Monte-Carlo, Michelin Group, Competitions Director, Nick Shorrock, said Michelin is also deeply interested in using its racing experience to develop tyres that are safer and longer lasting for all motorists.

“Michelin’s approach to motorsport fits perfectly with our research and development aims, and the new technologies which are validated on race tracks go on to contribute to the safety of all motorists,” Mr Shorrock said.

“A prime example of this technology transfer is the new MICHELIN Pilot Alpin 4, which will be launched in the second half of 2012 – this tyre was firstly developed as a competition tyre.”

For a more information on the 2012 Rallye Monte-Carlo, the latest WRC Tyre Regulations and Michelin’s new WRC Tyre range, please download the .pdf document in the link below.