James Mangold’s film ‘Le Mans 1966’ starring Matt Damon et Christian Bale relates how Ford succeeded in thwarting mighty Ferrari at Le Mans. Earlier the same year, Citroën and Michelin finished on top after a thrilling duel on another legendary event – the Rallye Monte-Carlo.
In association with Michelin, the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) held its annual prizegiving gala at the famous Louvre Museum in Paris, France, on Friday, December 6. Many of the champions who were presented trophies won their respective titles on Michelin rubber.
After creating Halls of Fame for its Formula 1 and Rally World Championships, the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) has now added an endurance racing section at its Paris headquarters. Twenty-nine champions were inducted at a special ceremony on Monday evening (December 2). It was organised in association with Michelin, a long-time major player in the discipline.
Sam Bird (Envision Virgin Racing/Michelin) and Alexander Sims (BMW I Andretti Motorsport) took the two wins at the opening meeting of the 2019/2020 Formula E Championship in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. Michelin has been the official tyre supplier to the FIA’s all-electric racing series since its creation in 2014.
Not only did the 2013 Rallye de France-Alsace see Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia (VW/Michelin) claim the first world title of their career*, but it also brought them their seventh win of the season. Dani Sordo (Citroën) and Jari-Matti Latvala (VW) were second, while Sébastien Loeb bowed out of the sport with a score of nine world crowns and 78 victories to his name. Thanks for everything, Seb!
In addition to (probably) settling the 2013 Drivers’ and Co-Drivers’ title chases, round 11 of the FIA World Rally Championship will be the swansong appearance of nine-time champions Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena. It will also be the last clash between Loeb and new star Sébastien Ogier.
Although Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia (VW/Michelin) won this weekend’s Coates Hire Rally Australia, they failed to wrap up the 2013 world title when Thierry Neuville (Ford/Michelin) rescued second place and pocketed two bonus points on the Power Stage!
This year sees Rally Australia celebrate its 20th edition as a qualifying round of the FIA World Rally Championship. Since the first of those in 1989, the event has moved from the continent’s west coast to the east, from Perth to Coffs Harbour. Round 10 of the 2013 WRC has attracted an entry of 29 cars.
Citroën/Michelin’s Dani Sordo came out on top after a tense finale in Germany to claim the first world class victory of his career. The Spaniard kept his nerve to beat Belgium’s Thierry Neuville (2nd, Ford/Michelin) who delivered another mature performance to go clear second in the Drivers’ standings. Mikko Hirvonen was a distant third (+2m36s) but pocketed valuable Manufacturers’ points for Citroën. The French make also won the WRC-2 and WRC-3 battles, with Kubica and Chardonnet.
The ADAC Rallye Deutschland counts towards all of rallying’s 2013 FIA world championships, namely the WRC, WRC-2, WRC-3 and Junior WRC. It is also a round of the Citroën R1 Trophy and the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup, not to mention the parallel national and historic rallies that have also been organised!
The assertive victory of Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia in Finland today takes the pair and Volkswagen-Michelin even further clear at the top of the 2013 world championship standings. The Frenchman becomes only the fourth ‘non-Nordic’ driver to beat the locals on this high-speed event. He was joined on the ‘Finn-less’ podium by Ford-Michelin’s Thierry Neuville (2nd) and Mads Ostberg (3rd) whose fight for silver was a highlight of the last day.
Sébastien Ogier (Volkswagen Polo R WRC/Michelin) returned to his winning ways with an emphatic success in Sardinia today. He was joined on the podium by Thierry Neuville (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) and Jari-Matti Latvala (VW).
Not only does the Rallyd’Italia-Sardegna clash with the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours, but the formats of the two events are quite similar. Indeed, competitors on the Italian WRC round will spend just 28 of the event’s 37 hours (from start to finish ceremony) behind the wheel of their respective cars.