Michelin: How success has bred success

Sponsor - Sponsor 10:29 14/07/2015
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  • Michelin: An excellent record on the track and off it.

    The circuit of Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium and its surrounding township really is a glorious place.

    Steeped in the hills and forests that layer the border between Belgium and northern France, the roads – smooth, undulating and demanding of attention – sneak upon you, before pointing toward Paris.

    The last time I was there – some two months ago – was for a long distance sports car race. The battle was close throughout and the leading team – Audi no less – finished both 1st and 2nd, but their main rivals, Porsche, ran them to the wire.

    This wasn’t just another win for the German marque – this was another win for Michelin; their tenth in 10 races since the beginning of last year.

    As members of the Audi team celebrated, there were congratulations too down at the Michelin camp. Broad smiles, slapped backs and the overriding theme of a job well done.

    For Michelin, this was one of many successes – whether it sports cars, rallying or electric racing, Michelin are there on the top step too with these drivers, these teams, these successes…

    A week earlier, Kris Meeke had taken a popular first World Rally Championship victory in Rally Argentina in his Michelin-shod Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT machine. Once again, smiles abounded – the drivers are good, the teams are good, the tyres are effective. All the qualities needed to win, working together to secure the top positions and honours.

    Another Michelin success, but their victories do not come as easily as one might expect. This success is not something that is engineered in broad daylight – Michelin’s expertise is a science.

    It was something that had me thinking when leaving Belgium after that race. From Paris, one makes a quick sling left toward Geneva, and then along the perimeter of the Alps, followed by a brief ascent – and then a long, steep descent (!) – on the route to Milan, before settling in a picturesque Vienna.

    My ultimate destination is Abu Dhabi. It is a long way away, but I feel safe in the knowledge that my car and my Michelin tyres will handle this challenge no matter the conditions.

    When one thinks of Michelin, their successes in long distance racing are prominent – a test of their endurance capabilities. When one thinks of Michelin, their 82 victories in desert terrains upon their arrival in Dakar, whether in car, motorbikes or trucks stand proud – a test of the abilities across Africa’s harsh landscape.

    When one thinks of Michelin, their success in electric street racing come to the fore – 11 victories from 11 races, as they push the boundaries of technology in the quest for success.

    Even at the top level of motorsport, Michelin’s name is written in gold with their name having claimed 215 Formula One Grands Prix from just over 900 events, even though they have only competed in 14 of its 66 years. An astounding achievement.

    Whether endurance, road rallying or street and circuit competition, Michelin is there and they are making their presence count, making their science count.

    Michelin’s ability to participate is some of the harshest competitive conditions in events across the globe is not just a sign of their desire to win, but also an indicator of the strength of understanding with their products across the range.

    Of course, when driving across a city, I would not necessarily think myself a top class driver pretending to be a competitor in a long distance racing festival of speed, nor would I consider my place shooting sharply amidst the trees in an electric vehicle and one certainly does not see oneself as a desert racing nomad in Qatar, trekking along the dunes.

    But as regular user of the road, it is clear that Michelin do not merely provide four tyres for my wagon; they provide safety, reliability, balance and comfort – my four main considerations when driving.

    These tyres are the only elements of my car that touch the road. Admittedly, tyres are not exactly the most attractive to look on car, but they are critical if I want to travel safely. With Michelin, there is an inner-confidence in their product that makes their tyres essential.

    Technically, Michelin do not create tyres specifically for me, but they do so for everybody and that does mean designing a product that works comfortably across a wide range of cars, weather, surfaces and conditions – and this is where Michelin really succeed.

    This is also where they take their know-how from endurance racing, rallying, electric racing, and make them count for your road car. This is where success leads.

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