Michelin prepare for Monte challenge.

Following its titles in both the Drivers' and Manufacturers' championships in 1998, 1999 and 2000, Michelin revealed the tyres, that the company will take to Monte Carlo as it looks to extend its run of three consecutive "double crown" successes.

The French firm's record of ten wins last season from fourteen rounds - and on all the types of stage surface encountered in the series - was a fitting tribute both to the quality of its products and to the expertise of its technical staff. Today, however, there is no room for complacency since the season ahead has all the makings of being yet another nail-biting, action-packed thriller...

Every season marks a fresh start and, even though teams will not exactly be starting from a clean sheet in 2001, the overall picture at the sharp end marks a certain contrast to that of twelve months ago. To begin with, nobody will be able to claim this time round to have been taken by surprise by the potential of the Peugeot-Michelin squad, while the various technical evolutions programmed by the teams over the coming months means that no-one will be able to lower their guard.

On the tyre front, one of the biggest changes will be the recent switch of the factory Fords to a rival supplier after their runner-up finish in the 2000 Manufacturers' points table. Even so, Michelin will continue to be associated with five of the seven makes entered in the 2001 championship following the return of Citro?n and its new Xsara T4 on all asphalt rounds from the Catalonia Rally onward.

It is therefore in collaboration with Mitsubishi, Peugeot, Hyundai, Skoda and Citro?n that the Clermont Ferrand-based company will defend its 2000 crowns, beginning with this weekend's Monte Carlo Rally, one of the most complex of the year from the tyre angle.

Following the introduction of a new regulation for 2001, the number of tyres that WRC teams will be able to choose from has been slashed, even though the weather in the French Alps is likely to be as fickle as ever.

As a consequence, experience of the countless combinations of stage conditions crews can expect during the winter classic will play its usual critical role... and that means Michelin's run of seven Monte wins in the past ten years is once again sure to be a valuable asset.

Tyres and the World Rally Championship.

Like any tyre a World Rally Championship tyre has to fulfil a certain number of functions: grip, absorb, steer, transmit, resist. To be competitive, it must combine all these roles. However, the specificity of each round tends to put the spotlight on one or sometimes two of these functions...

1. Grip.
Grip is generated by the reaction of the rubber's molecules over the unevenness of the ground. The tyre's pattern and dimensions contribute to grip by optimising the contact between the tread and the road.

2. Absorb.
The properties of tyres and the air they contain form an integral part of the vehicle's suspension, especially since the tyre is in the front line when it comes to soaking up obstacles on the road.

3. Steer.
A tyre must be capable of responding instantly and as accurately as possible to the driver's instructions via the steering wheel. The construction and compound of the tyre directly influence the quality of this response.

4. Transmit.
Not only must the tyre transmit the vehicle's power to the ground, but its construction and pattern must also enable it cope efficiently with the effects of torque, be this positive (acceleration) or negative (braking).

5. Resist.
Despite suffering repeated aggression due to the extreme running conditions (long distances at high speed, high temperatures, long groups of stages, rough ground), the tyre must conserve its performance characteristics over time.

The Monte Carlo Rally.

The wintry conditions of the Monte Carlo mean that grip is very often at a premium. In addition to the fundamental role of the rubber (the compound of which must be adapted to low temperatures), the snow and ice tyres (Michelin G51, Michelin D10) are generally equipped with studs.

These tiny tungsten tips are fitted along each side of the tread and held in place using a special glue. Their number and dimensions are limited by French traffic regulations.

Each stud will strike the ground nearly 10,000 times during a 20 km stage (more than 10 times a second at 80 kph!) with a force that can reach 1kW on each impact. If conditions do not dictate full studding, the driver can choose to run with just one row of studs for added security through the most delicate portions.
This is known as a 'half-studded' tyre. The single row of studs is generally along the 'inner' edge of the tyre in order to favour traction.

When conditions enable 'racing' type tyres to be fitted (Michelin N, Michelin TA), their wide dimension (maximum authorised by the regulations) optimises the amount of rubber in contact with the road (?150 sq. cm - roughly the size of a man's hand - per tyre).

Michelin's Monte Carlo range.

Stages with heavy snow cover (70%-100%) and/or ice: Michelin G51(Studded).

Maxi snow pattern and construction. This tyre's narrow dimension (100 mm) enables it to cut through the upper crust of snow with a view to seeking out better grip deeper down. Its high sidewalls offer good shock absorbing performance and positive steering response on snow-free roads.

Mixed stages (ice/ snow and clear asphalt). Snow cover between 30% and 70%: Michelin D10 or Michelin D10 Evolution. (Number of studs can be adapted according to prevailing conditions. Also available without studs).

Available in two versions (base tyre + evolution), the pattern and construction of the Michelin D10 make it suitable for running on clear tarmac. Wider than the Michelin G51, it ensures a bigger contact patch for more efficient transmission of the car's power to the ground. On dry and damp surfaces, its low sidewalls favour lateral stability under cornering

Dry tarmac (ground temperature: up to 8?C): Michelin N0 or Michelin N0 Evolution 1.Dry tarmac (ground temperature: from 6?C) : Michelin N2 or Michelin N2 Evolution 1 or Michelin N2 Evolution 2Damp tarmac (cold weather): Michelin TA0

These are all racing tyres, although their individual patterns, compounds and constructions differ according to their end use and conditions (dry weather, damp surfaces, rain, temperature, etc.). Their tread width is the maximum authorised by the regulations (9", or 228mm) in order to optimise the transmission of the car's power to the ground. Like the Michelin D10, their low sidewall dimensions favour cornering stability.

Michelin will have a total staff of 28 for the Monte Carlo Rally. The total number of covers available for the event is 3,800 carried in 9 semi-trailer workshops. All are fitted with Michelin's ATS system (Appui Temporaire Souple). These figures do not include those teams supplied and serviced by Michelin France.

From 2001, as is already the case with 'gravel' tyres, WRC teams may only use two types of tyre on the championship's asphalt rounds. It is what might be termed 'visual' features (pattern, dimensions) that are taken into account, although each type may be used in a variety of compounds.

Teams must communicate their choice to the FIA four weeks before the event is due to start. Exceptionally, a maxi-snow and a studded snow pattern may be used on the Monte Carlo Rally.

The Mitsubishi, Peugeot, Hyundai and Skoda factory teams will be running Michelin tyres at Monte Carlo.