Michelin Sues FIM

Subject: Michelin Sues FIM Tue Mar 13, 2007 6:21 am

Quote :: In yet another swipe in the long-running list of animosities between Michelin and the FIA triggered by the Indianapolis tire fiasco in the 2005 USGP, the French tire maker announced today that it is suing the governing body of international motorsport.

Michelin claims there were irregularities in the tender process conducted by the FIA to choose a new, sole tire manufacturer for the World Rally Championship. The tender was won by Pirelli.

The French company had previously, as expected, lost the Formula 1 tender to Bridgestone. Scheduled to become F1’s sole supplier in ’08, the Japanese company will enjoy such condition already this season, as Michelin chose to withdraw one year earlier.

"Michelin initiates legal proceedings against the FIA before the Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris and requests that the 27 February 2007 decision of the World Motor Sport Council of the FIA granting Pirelli the exclusive supply of tires for the 2008-2009-2010 World Rally Championships (WRC) be annulled due to irregularities in the tender process," the company stated.

Michelin-owned BFGoodrich currently supplies all the manufacturer-backed teams in the WRC, including Subaru, a longtime Pirelli partner that made the switch this season after being unable to be competitive with the Italian rubber.

Speed