V8SC has work to do: Michelin

Michelin is interested in V8 Supercars but says the series has work to do before the tyre company would look to enter.

Speaking at the Michelin Pilot Sport Experience showcase at Sepang in Malaysia on Friday, Tony Menard, Marketing Director Southeast Asia & Oceania told motoring.com.au that while German touring cars (DTM) was "very well marketed", V8 Supercars was still "short of its potential".

"I'm a big fan of V8s because it's one of the few races where you see the guys fighting [on the track]," Menard told motoring.com.au.

"It could be interesting [for Michelin] if there is a challenge – more even now because they [V8s] have changed the [tyre size] diameter to 18-inches. But the tyre [equation] is today not presenting enough of a challenge for us to enter," he said.

V8 Supercars currently has a supply agreement with Dunlop. The arrangement is not due for renewal until the end of the 2017 season.

Menard says the use of rules which mean tyres are almost throw-away props is "against Michelin's DNA".

"We are not against entertainment. We are against using the tyres as the single source of entertainment," he said.

"Combining our objectives and the DNA of a [exciting] race is possible – the best example is Le Mans," he explained.

"The challenges are there and why all the car makers are entering, and Ford for example is coming back next year, is because they have a story to tell with their DNA," he stated.

Menard says race-effecting tyre rules is the key reason the French innovator has eschewed F1.

"The development we do, the racing we do, must be in line with our DNA," he told motoring.com.au.

"That is why we are not in F1. I spend hours encouraging our team and retailers to highlight the additional mileage that our [road car] tyres deliver – it is the customers' return on investment. How can we be credible and talk about this if it is not reflected on the track?" he asked.

"In F1, we [the race teams] must replace tyres after ten laps. There is no challenge in this – nor benefit for our consumers."

Menard offered the counter example of Michelin's Formula e tyres which are required to last the whole of a race weekend and be used in all temperature and weather conditions.

"Next year our WRC teams will use 40 per cent less tyres [with no loss in performance]... At Le Mans our tyres did up to four stints – over 730km at average speeds in excess of 225km/h. We will work with MotoGP in 2016 and reduce tyre use," he posited.  

On V8s, he says the "audience can be interesting."

"It's a show but I was impressed not only to see racing addicts around the track but families also.

"You [potentially] touch more people. So if the evolution of the regulations [are appropriate] and if some car makers are asking us for assistance, it's [our involvement] up for discussion," he stated.

But says Menard, there's work to do on the offering.

"I'm a marketing guy... There's something to do in terms of the marketing of the events – in  terms of branding, the [quality of the] show.

"It's well organised but there is something to do to reach another standard.

"These are important because they are the details [with which] you are making the differences from other [motorsport] events.

"If I am comparing the DTM in Germany or Super GT in Japan, I think [in contrast] these are examples of championships which are very well marketed," Menard told motoring.com.au.

"If I put myself in the shoes of a car maker: is this [V8SC] the place I want to invest? Interesting…" he reflected.