Dossier De Presse Fia Wec 2017
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DOSSIER DE PRESSE FIA WEC 2017 INNOVATING TO This weekend’s Prologue at Monza kicks we initiated in 2014 when we shaved 15 off a brand new FIA World Endurance percent off the size and weight of our ACHIEVE MORE Championship campaign and Michelin is LM P1 tyres. This reduced the weight WITH LESS delighted to be working with its partners of each tyre by 2kg and resulted in a total once again in this discipline which fits raw-materials saving of five tonnes per so well with its strategic vision. season. At the same time, we succeeded in maintaining, and even improving the Although the regulations for this year’s performance and longevity of our tyres. FIA WEC are globally stable compared The introduction of new tyres in 2017 with 2016, one fundamental parameter will lead to a total saving of almost 12 has changed, and that is a one-third tonnes, which equates to more than reduction in the number of tyres teams 1,000 fewer tyres to make, transport are authorised to use for qualifying and and recycle. the race at each round. Only four sets are now allowed for six-hour races, The requirement to achieve more instead of six previously. with less as a result of this year’s rule change is another step towards enhancing This modification affects both the LM mobility in the future, an objective that P1 and LM GTE Pro classes and has has long driven Michelin and which the forced the tyre manufacturers to develop Group sees as fundamental. Pascal Couasnon new solutions capable of frequent Director, Michelin double-stinting during races. It is just another example of how mo- Motorsport torsport is able to play a core role in At Michelin, we saw this stimulating the development of the tyres motorists challenge as an extension of the policy will use tomorrow. 2 Press Kit FIA WEC 2017 A RELEVANT AND NECESSARY CHANGE TO THE REGULATIONS When drawing up the techni- work to a halt. Indeed, the one- mission. It will call for even tighter cal regulations for the 2017 FIA third reduction in the number of tyre management by the teams World Endurance Championship tyres LM P1 and LM GTE Pro teams and makes double-stint strategies (FIA WEC), the FIA (Fédération are authorised to use for qualifying mandatory for the season’s six- Internationale de l’Automobile) and races is a key feature of the hour fixtures. Tyre choices will and the ACO (Automobile Club new campaign and necessitated therefore need to be made very de l’Ouest) placed the emphasis significant preparation work over carefully, taking into account the on stability. In addition to making the winter break. tyres’ respective operating windows, the series more attractive for The reduction from six to four sets as well as the drivers’ different potential LM P1 newcomers, this of tyres to cover both qualifying styles and the set-up of the cars. provides Porsche and Toyota with and races (except at Le Mans) is Tyres are consequently poised a well-earned pause in terms one of this year’s chief changes to play an even more central role of development work after the and no derogations have been in world class endurance racing investments they have made granted for the calendar’s more which requires a combination of in avant-garde technologies in aggressive tracks. performance and consistency over recent seasons. Michelin welcomes this step a minimum period of six hours. This doesn’t mean, however, that which has long been a wish of the Tyres are likely to make an even the manufacturers and Michelin FIA and which was extensively bigger contribution to the quality have brought their development debated by the Endurance Com- of the show and the opportunities 3 Press Kit FIA WEC 2017 for judicious strategies could give The efficient management of raw everyday mobility for the motoring shrewd teams a competitive edge. materials and energy, as well as public. And this is precisely what The reasoning behind the change’s the curbing of CO2 emissions, the latest reduction in the number approval by the FIA Endurance are all givens when it comes to of tyres allowed for FIA WEC Commission extends beyond sim- taking sustainable, environmen- races achieves. ply adding to the interest of races, tally-respectful mobility forward. however. Indeed, tyre quantity At the same time, it dictates the To meet its partners’ demand for reductions play a big part in the use of technologies that allow better performance and consistency, bid for efficiency which was a key more to be achieved with fewer Michelin has invested in the factor behind the vision that led resources. development of new technolo- to hybrid cars being introduced Michelin believes that the pertinent gies that allow tyre longevity to be four years ago already, with the technical regulations motivate all enhanced with no detriment to performance of these high-tech the sport’s players to invest in performance. And what is beneficial prototypes linked directly to efficient efficiency, with the innovations to its partners today will eventually management of precise energy developed in racing capable of be beneficial to motorists as a allowances per lap. being carried over to enhance whole tomorrow. 4 Press Kit FIA WEC 2017 MICHELIN’S TEAMWORK WITH ITS PARTNERS It is thanks to solid teamwork that advisers within the teams and be finetuned at this weekend’s Michelin successfully showed that tyre management during stints. FIA WEC Prologue ahead of it is possible to improve tyre life This complex process neces- 2017’s first two races (Silverstone and consistency without detracting sitated several test sessions in and Spa-Francorchamps) which, from lap-time performance. 2016 and 2017. in turn, will serve to prepare for Michelin’s strong working rela- Due to the scope of the challenge Le Mans. tionships with its partners ensure arising from the changes to the It is thanks to the combination of valuable synergies between its regulations, Michelin Motorsport’s its capacity for innovation and the engineers and their colleagues engineers began their testing privileged relationships it enjoys in the teams, with the tyre factor programme for 2017 much sooner with its partners that Michelin was taken into account at a very early than usual. Indeed, the first 2017- able to rise successfully to the phase in the development process spec tyres were run as early as challenge of smaller tyre alloca- of new cars. last summer (July and August). tions for the 2017 FIA WEC. The It was this strong spirit of coope- That was followed by five other switch from six sets in 2016 (and ration that drove the development sessions with each manufacturer occasionally even eight sets for of Michelin’s new solutions for the at circuits as varied as Motorland the calendar’s most aggressive 2017 FIA WEC, with collaboration Aragon (Spain), Paul Ricard circuits) to four sets has led to covering areas ranging from the (France), Portimao (Portugal), significant changes to Michelin’s tyres’ technical changes and per- Bahrain, Vallelunga (Italy), Valencia endurance racing range to permit formance, to systems designed (Spain), Nevers-Magny Cours double stinting at every circuit, to assist tyre choices at races, (France) and Barcelona (Spain). irrespective of their surface’s severity the work of Michelin’s technical The definitive specifications will and track temperatures. 5 Press Kit FIA WEC 2017 BRAND NEW TYRES, PLUS CHOICES DISPLAYED ON TV Although tyre sizes are the same • Specific regulations for the four, endurance racing’s authorities as they were in 2016, Michelin has LM P1 prototypes have implicitly introduced the prin- made significant changes to its ciple of double-stinting for LM GTE endurance racing range. The new The size of the tyres used by the Pro cars. Michelin’s partners in the quantity caps necessitate greater LM P1 prototypes is 31/71R18 front class will consequently be able to durability in order to permit double and rear and teams can choose accustom themselves with cove- stinting at every round, even at the between three different slicks (soft, ring longer distances on the same most aggressive venues, since no medium and hard). As in previous rubber, for at least two-thirds of derogations will be granted. Despite years, Michelin’s partners must race distances. the scale of the challenge, Michelin’s nominate two of these three variants engineers succeeded in extending ahead of each race, with the ex- The 2017 regulations also forbid tyre longevity without impacting ception of Le Mans where they will tyre development in the course of negatively on their performance in have access to Michelin’s full the season. Tyre manufacturers stopwatch terms. range. There are no restrictions have effectively been asked to Michelin also took advantage of the regarding development during the register two of the three specifi- change to make its range easier to season and specifications may cations they are permitted to run understand for the championship’s evolve as a function of the needs prior to Le Mans, while the third insiders and fans alike by categorising of Michelin’s partners. Quotas for variant will be introduced in La its tyres based on the conventional individual races are as follows: Sarthe. No modifications will be notions of compound type: • 3 sets for free practice, allowed during the second half of • SOFT • 4 sets for qualifying and the race, the FIA WEC. • MEDIUM • Le Mans 24 Hours: 12 sets for • HARD qualifying and the race. A new, more transparent BoP These explicit appellations make In addition to slicks, Michelin’s partners (Balance of Performance) is tyre strategies easier to understand, will have access to the MICHELIN another new move for 2017.