By Phil Huff (11/10/2003)
October 11 2003

Michelin has received a request from British American Racing to supply the British-based team with its tyres for the FIA Formula One World Championship starting in 2004. In a press release, Michelin say they are "very honoured by this show of confidence in its products.

Following the request, Michelin Managing Partner and CEO Edouard Michelin said "It is very satisfying for us to see that by asking to use our tyres in 2004, BAR is counting on us to help the team reach the objectives it has set itself for the coming season. This shows that the team shares the opinion widely held by many of the sport's specialists on the performance of Michelin tyres."

Michelin is currently studying the resources needed to ensure an efficient collaboration between Michelin and British American Racing.

Michelin will give its response to this request in the very near future, but given that Sporting Regulation 76 b* clearly states that a tyre manufacturer must be prepared to equip up to 60% of the entered teams, Michelin is obviously obliged to respond positively.

* Extract from the Sporting Regulations, 76 b

b) No tyre may be used in the Championship unless the company supplying such tyre accepts and adheres to the following conditions:

one tyre supplier present in the Championship : this company must equip 100% of the entered teams on ordinary commercial terms;

two tyre suppliers present : each of them must, if called upon to do so, be prepared to equip up to 60% of the entered teams on ordinary commercial terms;

three or more tyre suppliers present : each of them must, if called upon to do so, be prepared to equip up to 40% of the entered teams on ordinary commercial terms;