Michelin and their team-up with the Audi Sport Team proved fruitful yet again with a one-two triumph at the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans. Both the new Audi R18 e-tron Quattro racecars were fitted with a new type of Michelin racing tires.

Developed specifically for the 2014 World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC), Michelin developed these new racing tires which are narrower by five centimeters and lighter by two kilograms. And yet, despite the new development constraints brought about by the new rules, Michelin is proud to say that drivers were able to complete three or even four stints on the same set of tires.

“First of all, I would like to thank all our partners. We are very proud to have had such a successful weekend, and that was made possible by the unique expertise of Michelin Motorsport’s engineers when it comes to making tires capable of rising to the multiple challenges this race throws at them. They faced a tough task but rose to it with success,” said Pascal Couasnon, Michelin Motorsport’s Director.

These tires contain trade secrets covering certain technologies that Michelin could well carry over to its high-end road tires in the future, bringing the latest innovations of the Michelin Total Performance (MTOP) to everyone. The three pillars of safety, longevity and performance efficiency are the standards for MTOP.

Aside from its success with the Audi Sport Team, Michelin also supported teams in the LMP2, LM GTE Pro, and LM GTE AM class.

The Michelin Total Performance Award, introduced to reward contributions to sustainable mobility in the form of a €1 million prize fund and based on a certain number of conditions (victory, fastest race lap, distance record, limited tire consumption and total energy consumption reduced by 15 percent) was not won this year but will be carried over to next year’s Le Mans 24 Hours.

For this year’s race, Michelin’s partners benefited from the availability of 7,000 tires and a staff of more than 100 specialists to service their needs and work alongside them.

The next round of the FIA World Endurance Championship will take teams to the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, USA, on September 20, 2014.