Michaelin Malaysian GP Preview

By Michelin Press Release
March 21 2003

 

 

  
Michelin: Malaysian Grand Prix Preview
 
“The pressure on us could hardly be greater,” says Pierre Dupasquier, Michelin’s motorsport director. ”We dominated the 2002 Malaysian Grand Prix – when Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya finished first and second for the BMW WilliamsF1 Team – and we have just recorded a magnificent 1-2-3 in Melbourne. It would be easy to assume that Bibendum will be invincible in Malaysia – but we are fully aware of the challenge facing us this weekend.”

“Motor sport at this level is always difficult. Although we have upped our game since this time last season, as have our partner teams, we are taking absolutely nothing for granted.”

“We have identified a number of areas in which we can improve and the latest Formula One cars are still at an early stage of their development curve, so it is far too soon to be able to predict how the 2003 season will pan out.”

Juan Pablo Montoya, BMW WilliamsF1 Team driver, commented on the performance of the Michelin tyres: “Michelin has definitely made a big step over the winter which means that if our tyres were good in Sepang in 2002, this year they should be excellent! I remember last year the tyres worked well from the first lap and I hope this happens again next week.”

For Pierre Dupasquier, Michelin motorsport director, added: “This circuit is notable for its mixture of quick and slow corners – and some of the slower ones are preceded by long straights. The surface is abrasive and the rate of tyre wear is thus quite high. To cope with these parameters, and taking into account the expected high temperatures, we will be bringing a selection of tyre compounds from the medium-hard sector of our range.

“It is always possible that violent tropical storms might affect the event and we will be prepared: we have some new wet tyres available and they have been developed specifically with this grand prix in mind.

“Finally, every extra 10 kilos of fuel slows the cars by about 0.3 seconds per lap.”

Pascal Vasselon, F1 project manager, spoke on several subjects:

SELECTION PROCESS
“We finalised our tyre specifications for Sepang in the wake of the Australian Grand Prix. Our partner teams evaluated a number of compounds when they tested last week at Jerez, Spain. Three of these will be taken to Malaysia.”

NEW RAIN TYRES
“The rain tyres we’ll be taking to Sepang differ from those we used in Melbourne because the surface in Malaysia is more abrasive and temperatures are likely to be much higher. We have modified the tread pattern and, unlike the wets we took to Melbourne, the fronts and rears will be quite similar.”

LOGISTICS, LOGISTICS…
“In order to facilitate the air freight process, our used tyres from Melbourne were taken straight to Malaysia. The factory finished making the new tyres we’ll be using at Sepang on Friday evening, March 14, and they were transported to Amsterdam airport early the following day. They should reach the track by Tuesday morning.”

STRATEGIC THINKING
“Last year Ralf Schumacher made a single stop en route to winning this grand prix. This year we can expect to see some drivers use the same tactic, but the new rules create different strategic possibilities and a two-stop race might be equally effective.”
 
 
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