Big names choose Michelin for Bathurst 12 Hour

As the sun comes up on the 10th of February 2013 a grid of close to 50 magnificent machines will grid up for an epic battle of speed and endurance in the 2013 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour.

Marques such as Ferrari, Porsche, Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz will all be there and helping them achieve the ultimate performance will be MICHELIN.

After comfortably winning the battle of the tyre manufacturers in the Australian GT Championship last year, MICHELIN is looking forward to resuming this battle.

Michelin tires

Photo by: Audi Communications Motorsport

“With a racing pedigree built on championship and race wins across the globe, the MICHELIN name is synonymous with delivering quality motorsport products that perform well, are safe, durable and their performance is consistent lap after lap,” said Thierry MARTIN, Managing Director MICHELIN Australia.

“These critical elements of performance are not only specific to endurance racing, but are also key priorities for Australian drivers. For this reason, after being tested in the extreme conditions of a race track, innovations that help our race partners are then transferred into MICHELIN passenger car tyres.

“Developments that improve safety, increase tread life and ensure sustainable tyre performance are built into tyres such as the MICHELIN Pilot range which are the tyres of choice for many of the machines we will see on the track at Bathurst,” Mr MARTIN added.

New V8 Supercar team and Australian GT runner up, Erebus Motorsport will again be working closely with the MICHELIN team. For Erebus Motorsport the choice was simple.

“MICHELIN and Erebus Motorsport have been in partnership for a long time now and the trackside support they supply is critical to their brand's success around the world,” said Erebus Motorsport General Manager, Motorsport - Barry RYAN.

“The performance of the MICHELIN tyres was instrumental in Erebus Motorsport's success at both the Bathurst 12 Hour and the Australian GT Championship in 2012.

“We have incredibly strong driving teams in both our cars at Bathurst, including the two drivers that developed the SLS AMG GT3 in Bernd Schneider and Thomas Jager.

The combined success of the SLS AMG GT3 and MICHELIN in all forms of endurance motorsport around the world places us in good stead for a strong performance in the Bathurst 12 Hour.”

Adding to the prestige of the event this year is the number of international drivers and teams who will be joining the locals. Leading the way will be Mercedes-AMG factory drivers Bernd Schneider and Thomas Jager in the Erebus Motorsport SLS AMG GT3.

Joining them will be current WTCC champion – British driver Rob Huff – who will drive an Audi R8 LMS with Peter Conroy and Australian Gold Star champion James Winslow.

As this event continues to grow – as does the international interest. In 2013 some of MICHELIN’s key international partners will make the journey to the famed circuit including AF Corse and Phoenix Racing.

AF Corse will make their first trip to Australia and after a highly successful year with MICHELIN in 2012 that saw them win the GTE Pro class at the Le Mans 24 Hour and in the FIA World Endurance Championship in a Ferrari 458 Italia.

Phoenix Racing returns with their Audi R8 LMS Ultra after winning the Bathurst 12 Hour and the Nurburgring 24 Hour with MICHELIN in 2012.

Michelin