Michelin looking to return to WRC as tyres supplier
Pirelli have got testing underway as the official new tyres supplier to Formula One, meanwhile Michelin has revealed it is considering returning as a tyres supplier to the World Rally Championship next year.
The French tyres manufacturer has confirmed to AUTOSPORT that it is looking to get back into the sport after a six-season absence.
The news follows the FIA’s decision to allow open tyre competition in the series again giving Michelin the opportunity to jump back in.
Nick Shorrock, Michelin’s competition director, told AUTOSPORT he could understand why some teams might have concerns about the potential for rising costs if a tyre war erupts in the WRC.
He said: “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.”
Alex Kapadia, Operations Team
Number: Z8037079
Reg: NKF419
