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14 Dec 2002, 12:14 (Ref:449755) | #1 | ||
Take That Fan
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Ford switch back to Michelin
Just picked this up from Autosport.com
Ford has made the switch from Pirelli to Michelin tyres as it bids to wrest the World Rally Championship crown away from Peugeot in 2003. The Focus has had limited success over the past two seasons on Italian rubber, and rally boss Malcolm Wilson is hoping a switch back to Michelin will allow drivers Markko Martin and Francois Duval to challenge the 206s which set the pace this season using the French tyres. "We have enjoyed two successful years with Pirelli and thank them for their support," said Wilson. "Together we have made some major improvements and this has seen us finish runner-up in the world championship for two years in a row as well as winning six rounds during this time. "The World Rally Championship is Ford Motor Company's premier global motorsport activity and as such we have some exciting plans for the future. We felt it was in the best interests of all parties to utilise this option now and enable us to renew our development links with Michelin." The Focus ran on Michelin rubber during its debut WRC season in 1999 and again the following year. Ford's F1 outfit, Jaguar Racing, also uses Michelin tyres. |
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14 Dec 2002, 18:38 (Ref:449925) | #2 | ||
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Nice, maybe there will be some Ford drivers in the next years Michelin Race of Chapions. (By the way, where have Michelin guys vanished that fact it is Henri Toivonen memorial?)
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14 Dec 2002, 23:05 (Ref:450078) | #3 | ||
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Yep, those Pirelli rubber didn't help the Forcus on Tarmac rallies in the past.
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15 Dec 2002, 06:20 (Ref:450182) | #4 | ||
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Join Date: Mar 2002
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so now its just subaru on pirelli isnt it?
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cheers |
15 Dec 2002, 11:00 (Ref:450275) | #5 | |
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There was a minute's silence in memory of Henri Toivonen before the start of the RoC final, so Henri is not forgotten by the organisers if not the media.
It'll be interesting to see how Ford perform on a level playing field rubber-wise with the two French teams and also whether Subaru / Pirelli get into a similar custom tyre relationship as Ferrari / Bridgestone. |
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15 Dec 2002, 18:04 (Ref:450505) | #6 | ||
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Pirelli has allways dominated in wet conditions, but otherwise Michelins have been better in rubberworks. Let's see if there is any Pirellis in the close future.
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Think, then act. Don't act, then think. -Jamie Hyneman |
16 Dec 2002, 17:15 (Ref:451256) | #7 | |
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Apparently Pirelli have committed to doing all their R&D with Subaru to suit the Impreza's requirements. (Makes sense for both partners)
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