Le Mans – An award based on energy efficiency

For several years, hybrids and energy efficiency have become increasingly important in endurance events such as 24h of Le Mans. In 2014, Michelin wants to reward innovations in this area by awarding a prize, the Michelin Total Performance Award, to a competitor who succeeds in meeting five very specific criteria:

? Criterion #1: victory. Only the winner of the general classification of the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be eligible for the prize.

? Criterion No. 2: performance on a lap. The winning car must have achieved the best lap in the race.

? Criterion No. 3: a record distance. The winning crew will have to cover a distance greater than the event record. Established in 2011, this reference is currently 5410 km covered in 24 hours.

? Criterion n°4: reduced energy consumption. The winner must display energy consumption lower by at least 15% compared to a 2013 reference based on the average energy consumption of classified LMP1s.

? Criterion No. 5: low tire consumption. The quantity of sets of tires used by the winning crew during the race must be less than or equal to 9 sets.

Michelin announces that it has chosen ambitious but achievable criteria. “Of course, to hope to beat the distance record, competitors will have to count on favorable elements such as good weather or a low number of race neutralizations. Likewise, meeting the tire criterion will be a challenge in itself, given the smaller tires that will be fielded this season. Meeting the five conditions set may not be possible this year... In this case, the MICHELIN Total Performance Award will be put back into play in 2015 and the following years until a competitor meets all the criteria. » explains Oliver Vialle, marketing director of Michelin Motorsport. A long-term vision for the Clermont-Ferrand firm which will donate one million euros to a research project on sustainable mobility in an independent academic institute.

In 2009, Michelin introduced the Michelin Green X Challenge. The Total Performance Award therefore only reinforces Bibendum's involvement in energy efficiency issues. Please note that all teams are eligible for this prize, regardless of the brand of tires fitted to the cars entered at Le Mans on June 14 and 15.