By BMW Sauber F1 Team
September 28 2006

Michelin, the BMW Sauber F1 Team's tyre partner, is to take new tyre evolutions to China and Japan. The goal of this measure is to once again provide its partners with an advantage over their rivals in the final rounds of the season. Nick Shorrock, Michelin's Formula One Director, has set his crew a clear goal for the final three rounds of the season: "We need to make sure the BMW Sauber F1 Team finishes ahead of Toyota, in the Constructors' Championship." To be able to support the team on this mission, extensive tests have been carried out in recent weeks.

"Michelin and its partner teams have been very busy during the past two weeks," he said. "In preparation for the forthcoming races in China and Japan, two radically different circuits that require a contrasting approach from our side, we have been testing new tyre evolutions at Jerez and Silverstone."

In the past week, all three BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers, Nick Heidfeld, Robert Kubica and Sebastian Vettel, were busy testing. At Jerez, they evaluated tyres for the forthcoming GPs, but while doing so, they didn't focus on the tyres' race performance alone. "In addition, we have also been doing further development work to improve our qualifying pace," revealed Shorrock.

Once again, preparations for Chinese GP track represented a special challenge during the tests. "This is only the third F1 race at Shanghai and there have been different tyre regulations in force every time," explained Michelin's F1 Director. "Good traction is imperative for the twisty parts of the circuit, although tyres are subjected to fewer mechanical/thermal demands here than they are at some other venues."