Michelin, ACO Ink Three-Year Partnership Extension

Photo: FIA WEC

Michelin has extended its partnership with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, 24 Hours of Le Mans and FIA World Endurance Championship for an additional three years, taking it through at least 2020/2021 WEC season.

The announcement was made Saturday in Bahrain, site of this afternoon’s WEC season finale.

While not an exclusivity deal, the French tire manufacturer will continue to supply teams in all four classes, including the majority of the GTE-Pro field as well as LMP1, which is expected to see the return of Toyota.

“The partnership uniting us with Michelin is a particularly precious one as it’s based on a common vision of motorsport,” said ACO President Pierre Fillon.

“Tire are an essential parameter in racing, strategy and safety for our entrants.

“Thanks to the variety of categories in our branch of motorsport that includes both prototypes and GTs, the richness of the information supplied by racing is a great help to the French manufacturer.

“For the ACO Michelin is a true technical partner and we’re delighted that we meet their professional demands.”

Michelin Motorsports Manager Pascal Cousanon added: “The Le Mans 24-Hours race is still the most demanding circuit event in the world and the FIA WEC is currently in a transformation phase that we want to be a part of.

“We believe in the pertinence of endurance as a vector of innovation.

“As a technical partner, Michelin will continue to make its contribution to the spectacle with its tires as well as transferring technology to series production to help motorists everywhere.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John