Michelin has underlined its commitment to the FIA World Rally Championship by extending its official tyre supplier agreement to the end of 2016.
The French firm has been a partner of the WRC since it took over from Pirelli in 2011 and supplies tyres to most of the rally teams.
The new deal will bring more Michelin branding to WRC stages, to television coverage and the WRC’s digital services. Michelin will also continue to use WRC content in its own promotions.
Pascal Couasnon, Michelin Motorsport director said: “This extension of our partnership with WRC was a logical step for us to take. The FIA World Rally Championship offers an authentic environment for Michelin to demonstrate the quality and endurance of our tyres, often under the most extreme conditions.”
Recent WRC viewing figures and a sporting season that runs from January to November had also impressed Couasnon.
“This cooperation also facilitates a significant global media visibility throughout almost the entire year,” he explained. “In 2013, more than 600 million fans worldwide followed the WRC on TV and more than three million visited the rallies on site. These numbers speak for themselves and we are waiting for other improvement”.
Oliver Ciesla, managing director of WRC Promoter, said: “We are delighted to continue to have Michelin at our side as a partner. We can guarantee Michelin an attractive environment at the stages, in the service park and on television.
“From the start of the current season, we have been able to significantly increase the transmission times compared to last season and thanks to our media strategy involving more live action. Michelin, as a WRC partner, profits from this development.”