Michelin ALMS Teams Star at 24 Hours of Le Mans

Audi, Corvette Racing Win; Level 5 and Robertson on Podium

Release Date: 06/17/2011  La Sarthe, France
Michelin and its technical partner teams, including those from the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), made history in the 79th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans June 11-12 in Le Mans, France.

Using an unprecedented quintuple stint (five fuel loads without a tire change) at a critical stage of the race, the Audi R18 TDI prototype of Benoit Treluyer, Marcel Fassler and Andre Lotterer delivered a record 14th consecutive overall race win for Michelin.

Turning a massive 55 laps of the 8.462-mile circuit while being chased by a trio of factory Peugeot prototypes, Treluyer gained the lead and then held it for an intense 3 hours and 20 minutes on the same set of MICHELIN^® tires. By foregoing tire changes, he saved approximately 20 seconds at each stop without sacrificing performance. “My MICHELIN tires gave me great grip from the word go, and I was able to lap at a sufficiently quick pace to defend our lead. I was still in position where I could push hard at the very end of my fifth stint,” said Treluyer.

The consistency and extended wear of MICHELIN tires also paid huge dividends for Corvette Racing. The Le Mans GTE-Pro category champions were able to triple stint their MICHELIN tires while recording their fastest laps at the end of their nearly three-hour stints. Oliver Gavin turned in a 41-lap triple stint with his best time on his 40th lap aboard the #74 Corvette Racing ZR1, leading the race at the time. Teammate Antonio Garcia reset his best time on each of the three consecutive final laps of his triple stint in the race-winning #73 Corvette. He then handed off to American Tommy Milner, who turned in his own triple stint.

Meanwhile, Scott Tucker’s Wisconsin-based Level 5 Motorsports claimed a top-ten finish and a spot on the LMP2 class podium. Tucker’s Honda-powered Lola was co-driven with Christophe Bouchut and Joao Barbosa.

Wrapping up a magical first entry at Le Mans, Michigan’s David and Andrea Robertson claimed a podium finish in the GTE-Am class with co-driver David Murry.

The ALMS series GT champions from Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche saw their bid for both GTE-Pro and GTE-Am podiums disappear with mechanical problems after strong runs by both cars.

“We are very pleased to see our MICHELIN tires and technologies help our technical partners succeed at the world’s most prestigious endurance race, Le Mans,” said Silvia Mammone, Michelin motorsports manager. “We are delighted to continue the Michelin record of overall success with our longtime partners Audi and Corvette, and to see newcomers Level 5 Motorsports and Robertson Racing achieve podiums in their first visits to Le Mans.”

Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks, motorcycles and the space shuttle. The company also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America (www.michelinman.com) employs more than 21,400 and operates 18 major manufacturing plants in 16 locations.