WE RACE FOR CHANGE
Motorsport, an accelerator of innovation#WeRaceForChange
Over the decades, we are proud to have globally demonstrated the performance of our racing tyres. Today, however, the nature of motorsport has changed.
The colossal challenge we face is to develop All Sustainable mass-market tyres whose design and production have a limited impact on the Earth's resources, biodiversity and CO₂ emissions, without detracting from the performance that has made the MICHELIN brand a success.
More than ever, motor racing serves as an invaluable accelerator of technological innovation. The extreme conditions that are inherent in motorsport provide us with an opportunity to innovate, experiment in record time, learn, create new solutions and accelerate the development of sustainable solutions that are of benefit to everyone.
We go racing in order to provide our partners with performance that lasts from the start of the race to the finish. Our commitment to you is to deliver a safe driving experience that lasts from the first mile to the last thanks to tyres that can be trusted all the way down to the legal wear limit.(1)
We go racing in order to rise to new challenges. Our tyres contain increasingly higher proportions of bio sourced and recycled raw materials(2). The advanced materials we develop in motorsport will go on to benefit all MICHELIN tyres from 2025.
We go racing to find answers, simulate, learn from data science and surpass ourselves. Our use of simulation engineering in motorsport is in the process of being extended to tyre production, resulting in significant savings in resources and CO₂ emissions.
Dylan, tyre performance engineer
Philippe, tyre technician
Stéphanie, chemist
The Le Mans 24 Hours - which takes place on roads normally open to everyday traffic - submits our tyres to exceptional challenges, from the track's uneven surface, to sudden weather and temperature changes. Yet our tyres must deliver flawless, perfectly-balanced performance, as well as safety, grip and versatility from the start of the race until the finish line!
1923: The winner of the inaugural Le Mans 24 Hours was a Chenard & Walcker fitted with MICHELIN tyres. It completed the race at an average speed of 57mph. Removable tyres revolutionised mobility by combining resilience, long life, comfort and user-friendliness.
1951: Patented in 1946 and marketed from 1949, MICHELIN X tyres featured a revolutionary radial carcass incorporating metal belts for long-lasting safety, comfort and fuel economy. A Lancia B20 GT won its class on radial tyres at the 1951 Le Mans 24 Hours.
1967: Michelin was the first to race slick tyres at Le Mans. Their entirely smooth, pattern-free tread provided superior grip in dry conditions. Slicks made an immediate impact, with the Alpine A210 completing a lap in under four minutes for the first time in its class before going on to win the P1.6 classification.
1978: The Renault-Alpine A442B's victory at Le Mans in 1978 equipped with high-performance MICHELIN radial tyres underlined the technology's extraordinary value. The result was followed by success in Formula 1, providing additional evidence of the superiority of radial tyres and contributing to the technology becoming the industry norm worldwide.
Hydrogen prototype of GreenGT
Toyota GR010 hybrid (2022 win)
Toyota TS050 hybrid (2018 win)
Porsche 919 hybrid (2016 win)
Audi R18 e-tron quattro (2012 win)
Audi R15 TDI (2010 win)
Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (2009 win)
Audi R10 TDI (2008 win)
Audi R10 (2006 win)
Bentley EXP speed 8 (2003 win)
Audi R8 (2000 win)
Porsche 911 GT1 (1998 win)
McLaren F1 GTR BMW (1995 win)
Peugeot 905 (1992 win)
Mercedes Sauber C9 (1989 win)
RENAULT ALPINE A442 B (1978 win)
Technological developments like the progress made in power-plant technology, from petrol and diesel engines to hybrid power units, the introduction of disc brakes and increasingly sophisticated aerodynamics all posed fresh challenges for tyres. They needed to adapt to bigger constraints, including higher power outputs, loads and torque, while at the same time providing superior efficiency. Michelin’s winning record at Le Mans has matched the incredible revolution the race has seen in terms of performance. In the last 10 years alone, it has helped the headlining LMP1 prototypes to complete up to 466 miles on a single set of tyres at an average speed of 149mph. That’s equivalent to the more than the distance covered by two Formula 1 grands prix!
The centenary Le Mans 24 Hours will be no exception with regard to Michelin innovations:
Tyres for circuit, rally, hillclimbing, classic racing, off-road & circuit moto
Tyres for cars, SUVs & vans
Tyres for motorbike & scooters
Our tyres are trusted by the most demanding - consumers, manufacturers, motorsports players and key opinion leaders ask for our products.
We lead the way towards mobility with reduced environmental impact(3) and innovate by investing in, around and beyond tyres.
We are at the forefront of electric mobility. Our engineers work closely with car, scooter & bike manufacturers to design tyres with performance that matter to electric vehicles owners.
Stay tuned! Read our latest MICHELIN Motorsport news
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LEGAL MENTIONS
(1) Last mile/kilometer being understood as until the minimum legal tread depth (1.6 mm in Europe). Please refer to the minimum legal tread depth in your country. More information can be found at https://www.michelin.co.uk/performance-made-to-last
(2) Michelin considers sustainable materials to be either recycled materials or bio-sourced materials renewable on the timescale of a human life, and which do not compete with the food sector. Michelin does not consider natural materials which are non-renewable on the timescale of a human life to be sustainable - such as oil. As such, some materials, although of natural mineral origin, such as silica, are not taken into account in the Michelin definition of a “sustainable material”. Recycled materials are the raw materials generated by any recycling operation by which industrial or post-consumption waste is reprocessed into products, materials, or substances. Energy reuse and the reprocessing of materials for use as energy are excluded. (Based on the definition of the European Directive for Waste).
(3) For more information https://www.michelin.com/en/sustainable-development-mobility/working-towards-sustainable-mobility/
Copywrights: MICHELIN, F. LE FLOCH / DPPI, F. FLAMAND / DPPI, F. GOODEN, T. GROMIK, C. MARIN, C. SAULNIER / DPPI, DPPI /MICHELIN, L’Equipe/Presse Sports, SIPA / MICHELIN