Dunlop and Michelin step up

Michelin, at the end of the 2009 endurance season, met up with its two most famous ?clients? with a view to improving its range of tires for next season. Thus, it was in Misano (Italy) that Michelin arranged to meet Peugeot and Audi. The 908 and the R15 completed laps of the circuit, testing different types of rubber, so that the engineers from the Clermont-Ferrand firm could collect as much data as possible. On one side, Franck Montagny, Stéphane Sarrazin and Marc Gené for Peugeot, on the other, Dindo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish for Audi.

In addition to the two LMP1s, Michelin invited Acura (LMP2), Maserati, Corvette, Aston Martin (GT1), Ferrari et Porsche (GT2). From Tuesday to last Friday, the eight cars turned around in Misano, in order to cover as many kilometers as possible. Michelin had brought 2000 tires for the occasion, wishing to test its different types of tires in all possible situations.

After Michelin, it was Dunlop in Estoril (Portugal) which carried out its development tests. Speedy Racing Team Sebah (LMP1) took part in these sessions, as did Lola-Aston Martin (LMP2), which included Jonathan Hirschi and Natacha Gachnang. The Quifel-ASM team is also present with its Ginetta-Zytek (LMP2), as is the Radical from the Bruichladdich team (LMP2) and the BMW M3 (GT2) driven in particular by Andy Priaulx.

These sessions will help both manufacturers refine their range for the next endurance season. In the meantime, the Michelin and Dunlop teams will have a lot of data to analyze and dissect on the behavior of the tires. Long-term work to best help the teams in their quest? endurance.