Michelin’s MICHELIN Pilot Sport EV, a ground-breaking tyre designed specifically for the world’s first electric single-seater championship has received the thumbs up from participating drivers.
“Facing track surface temperature of 45°C and with only one set of tyres authorised per car for the whole day, the MICHELIN Pilot Sport EV clearly faced a tough test, but it perfectly rose to the occasion and successfully delivered consistent performance throughout with absolutely no fall-off in performance towards the end.
“After our strong start to the championship in China, where Michelin made motor racing history by securing the first victory for an 18-inch tyre in an FIA single-seater championship, we overcame the hot, humid conditions in Putrajaya. We are particularly happy with the positive feedback we have been getting from the drivers who are clearly pleased with the performance of their MICHELIN Pilot Sport EV tyres,” said Serge Grisin, French firm’s FIA Formula E Programme Manager.
The second leg of the 10 races FIA Formula E Championship, the world’s first all-electric racing series, was held in Putrajaya and Michelin was the official tyre partner made its own contribution in the form of the MICHELIN Pilot Sport EV, which is being used by all Formula E competitors.
“The FIA Formula E Championship sits perfectly alongside Michelin’s own values, including the innovative spirit has been part of Michelin’s DNA since the company was founded more than 120 years ago,” said Beltran Yturriaga, Managing Director of Michelin Malaysia.
“Michelin is convinced that electric mobility is one of the indispensable solutions in the fight to depollute city centers, and is working in partnership with car manufacturers on the development of new-generation electric and hybrid vehicles,” he added.
Electric, urban, sustainable and technologically innovative, the new the MICHELIN Pilot Sport EV is designed to last through practice, the qualifying session and the E-Prix itself, without sacrificing performance.mThe suitability of Pilot Sport EVs for both wet and dry conditions, as well as their capability to perform both on smooth racing circuits and uneven city streets, makes them especially relevant to everyday drivers. The MICHELIN Pilot Sport EV is the first 18-inch tyre to be used on a single-seater race-car. This new size, which is similar in dimension to tyres used on road cars, is part of the fundamental work done by Michelin’s development teams towards reducing rolling resistance.
In order to reduce energy loss and increase vehicle range, the tyre’s size minimises the degree by which it flexes and reduces rolling resistance. The interior diameter (18 inches) also matches the wheels used by a high number of sports cars, and notably certain hybrid sports cars.mA further innovation of Michelin’s Formula E tyre is that it will have an electronic RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device) chip built into its sidewall to permit identification of the tyres supplied to the teams. This electronic RFID allows full traceability of MICHELIN tyres, from their production to their return to the factory after use at the race track. This is the first time that this sort of chip used in a single-seater racing championship.
“This new generation of vehicles is taking mobility to another level, one which is both cleaner and more efficient, and Michelin tyres are among the components capable of keeping pace with this change,” said Beltran.
“MICHELIN Motorsport has worked hard to provide endurance racing teams with tyres that deliver a continually improving combination of durability and performance. This outcome is the fruit of the MICHELIN Total Performance strategy, which seeks to reconcile seemingly contradictory qualities thanks to the use of new technologies,” he added.
The podium celebrations at the end of the second round of the 2014/2015 FIA Formula E Championship at Putrajaya in Malaysia starred Sam BIRD (Virgin Racing), Lucas DI GRASSI (Audi Sport ABT) and Sébastien BUEMI (e.dams-Renault). The next round of the inaugural FIA Formula E Championship will take teams to Punta del Este in Uruguay on December 13.
