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 and 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. while maintaining the notion of Hybrid (an intermediate slick) for When calculating the constraints temperature windows that Michelin damp or drying conditions, and to impose on the teams for a gi- introduced three years ago and to WET and FULL WET tyres for ven race, the sport’s authorities which facilitate dialogue between heavy rain. will now base themselves on an its engineers and those of its analysis of the cars’ real perfor- partner teams. • LM GTE Pro regulations: the mance at the preceding race or Meanwhile, to help fans to unders- same tyres for the complete races. tand what is happening in tyre season strategy terms, RFID tags will enable As in 2016, the tyre sizes for the tyre choices to be displayed on TV, By reducing the number of sets of LM GTE Pro cars are 30/68R18 from June’s Le Mans 24 Hours. tyres available for individual races to (front) and 31/71R18 (rear).

6 Press Kit FIA WEC 2017 A THRILLING SEASON OF FIA WEC ACTION IN STORE

With a total entry of 28 cars, the (Ford GT) and Porsche GT Team of our solutions for this fiercely arrival of new teams and cars and (Porsche 911 RSR). In LM GTE competitive class.” The LM P2 numerous driver line-up changes, Am, its partner teams are Spirit class has effectively evolved si- the 2017 FIA WEC is poised to be of Race ( 488 GTE) and gnificantly this season with the yet another thrilling campaign. Clearwater Racing ( GTE). arrival of the widely acclaimed Michelin will begin the cham- “Michelin is currently not repre- chassis, while a new pionship with eight partner teams sented in LM P2,” says Jérôme Gibson engine is mandatory for and 13 cars. Mondain, manager of Michelin’s all the cars. endurance racing programmes. In LM P1, its partners are Porsche “Over the winter, we were unable Some of Michelin’s partner Team (), to convince any teams to invest teams have made big changes Toyota Gazoo Racing (Toyota in Michelin but we intend to win to their driver line-ups: TS050 Hybrid) and ByKolles over partners in the course of the Racing Team. In LM GTE Pro, season. We are involved with a • In the Porsche Team camp, the Clermont-Ferrand firm will number of cars in the European world champions work with AF Corse (Ferrari 488 Le Mans Series and we intend to and have made way for GTE), Ford Racing use this to showcase the quality newcomers André Lotterer and

7 Press Kit FIA WEC 2017 who will share the N°1 • AF Corse/Ferrari has enrolled Prologue on April 1-2. Car N°91 will car with . Alessandro Pierguidi to replace be in the hands of / will race the N°2 car along- multiple world champion Gianmaria Fred Makowiecki, while N°92 will side and Timo Bruni who has decided to leave the be shared by Michael Christensen Bernhardt. Italian squad. The team’s Ferrari 488 and Kevin Estre. GTE has evolved and will sport a new, • At Toyota Gazoo Racing, the deeper red, commemorative livery. In LM GTE Am, Michelin will retirement of Stéphane Sarrazin work with two newcomers to the (who will nonetheless appear in • Ford has FIA WEC: a third car at Spa and Le Mans) recruited the USA’s Billy Johnson has offered an opportunity for the and Brazil’s Luis Felipe ‘Pipo’ • Spirit of Race, whose drivers three-time FIA WTCC champion Derani for the first three races of and Francesco and WEC rookie José María López. 2017. The American will join Stefan Castellacci will share an AF Corse- Mücke and in car N°66, tended Ferrari 488 GTE. Its third • ByKolles Racing is racing on while Derani will team up with driver will be named at a later date. Michelin tyres this season with a and new-look operation. Along with in N°67. • Clearwater Racing joins the FIA major changes to its car, its dri- WEC community on the back of a ver line-up sees • Porsche GT Team returns to successful record in the Asian Le join who was with the the FIA WEC this year after taking Mans Series. Matt Griffin, Keita outfit in 2016. The name of the time to develop the new Porsche Sawa and Weng Sun Mok will team’s third driver will be named 911 RSR which will make its FIA share an AF Corse-run Ferrari soon. WEC debut at the championship’s 488 GTE.

8 Press Kit FIA WEC 2017 Curve di Lesmo 2032 ft (619 m) ❹ ❺ Curva del N ❻ Serraglio

Variante della ❸ Roggia Variante Ascari Curva ❼ Parabolica ❽ Curva Grande ❷ ❶ Rettifilo Tribune Variante del Rettifilo

THE 2017 FIA WEC PROLOGUE

For the first time since the FIA longitudinal deceleration in excess exit speed of more than 260kph World Endurance Championship’s of 3g and their temperature can and the tyres are submitted to creation in 2012, the Prologue exceed 100°C. significant lateral constraints. (April 1-2) is being held at Italy’s motor racing temple, the Autodromo Next is the 300 metre-radius Curva Curva del Serraglio (Turn 6) is a Nazionale di Monza, near Milan. Biassono (Turn 2, aka Curva 600-metre radius corner which Built almost a century ago, the Grande) through which the drivers feeds into Variante Ascari (Turn circuit’s latest configuration is accelerate hard. The combination 7) and Curva Parabolica (Turn 8). 5.793km in length and has nine of high lateral and longitudinal The slope of the latter’s banking corners. It is one of the fastest (acceleration with the front wheels changes as the corner progresses, venues visited by the 2017 FIA turned) forces puts big constraints allowing the drivers to accelerate WEC, with a straight where the on the tyres. gradually and emerge onto the cars reach 320kph. Rettifilo delle Tribune straight at full After the ensuing one-kilometre song. The aerodynamic downforce A lap of Monza with Michelin straight, along which the cars generated here by the LM P1 pro- reach almost 300kph again, the totypes exceeds 2.5 tonnes. Prima Variante (Turn 1, aka Va- drivers slow to around 100kph for riante del Rettifilo) was added at Seconda Variante (Turn 3, aka Michelin has its complete endu- the end of the pits straight (Rettifi- Variante della Roggia). After these rance racing range available at lo delle Tribune) in 1976 and is the fast esses come the two Curve di Monza where the aim is to define spot where the drivers brake the Lesmo corners (Turns 4 and 5) in the new tyres’ operating windows hardest, slowing from more than the forest. The first opens into the as a function of the cars’ different 300kph to 70kph. The tyres face second which is taken flat, with an set-ups.

9 Press Kit FIA WEC 2017 2017 FIA WEC CALENDAR

6 HOURS OF SILVERSTONE (United Kingdom) Sunday, April 16

6 HOURS OF SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS (Belgium) Saturday, May 6

LE MANS 24 HOURS TEST DAY (France) Sunday, June 4

LE MANS 24 HOURS (France) Saturday/Sunday, June 17-18

6 HOURS OF NÜRBURGRING (Germany) Sunday, July 16

6 HOURS OF MEXICO (Mexico) Sunday, September 3

6 HOURS OF (USA) Saturday, September 16

6 HOURS OF FUJI (Japan) Sunday, October 15

6 HOURS OF SHANGHAI (China) Sunday, November 5

6 HOURS OF BAHRAIN (Bahrain) Saturday, November 18

Alessandro Barlozzi – [email protected] – Phone: +33.6.42.23.55.93