PARIS (Sept. 15, 2010)—The Federation Internationale de l'Automobile has accepted Michelin's bid to supply tires for the World Rally Championship starting next year.
FIA hasn't indentified any other tire supplier for the racing series.
Michelin said it will supply Michelin-brand tires to the WRC, reversing a decision made five years ago to shift all off-road competition activities to the BF Goodrich brand, also made by Michelin.
Michelin's application comes in the wake of a rules change that will allow open competition among tire makers for next year's WRC season, returning to that status after three seasons under a single-supplier regulation. The FIA earlier said it would disclose by Sept. 15 the names of tire makers approved to take part.
The rules change coincided with Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.'s appointment as the single supplier of tires for the FIA's international Formula 1 and GP2 series and Pirelli's subsequent decision to not participate in the WRC next year after three seasons as the spec tire supplier.