Michelin to follow Continental as IMSA tire supplier

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—The International Motor Sports Association is switching tire suppliers for the various sports car road-racing championships it organizes throughout North America. Michelin North America Inc. was picked to take over in 2019 from Continental Tire the Americas L.L.C.

The multi-year agreement with Michelin, starting with the 2019 season, covers the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and its two major affiliated challenge series, the Michelin SportsCar Challenge and IMSA Prototype Challenge presented by Mazda.

The deal replaces a supply agreement IMSA has had with Continental since 2010 and runs through the end of the 2018 season. Conti said IMSA chose not to extend their partnership after Conti had submitted a proposal for a multi-year extension that included a significant increase in investment.

"The significance of this expanded partnership with Michelin, one of the world's most recognized premium brands, cannot be overstated," IMSA President Scott Atherton said.

"IMSA has enjoyed a long and successful relationship with Michelin, and we are proud to confirm this long-term agreement," he said. "Our expanded partnership with Michelin—which also enjoys strong relationships with many of our participating automotive manufacturers—will be a catalyst for accelerating the growth of the WeatherTech Championship and IMSA as a whole."

The deal calls for Michelin tires to be on every Prototype and GT Daytona race car competing in the WeatherTech Championship, while the GT Le Mans class will be open to multiple tire manufacturers, IMSA said. Michelin has been that class's sole supplier the past few years.

The IMSA Michelin SportsCar Challenge, which will replace the Continental SportsCar Challenge, will feature the Grand Sport (GS) class for cars built to international GT4 specifications and Touring Car class for TCR-spec race cars. The IMSA Prototype Challenge presented by Mazda, featuring LMP3 race cars, also will ride on Michelins.

Atherton said IMSA is "extremely grateful for the role Continental Tire played in helping to grow our racing platforms throughout our partnership dating back to 2010.

"Continental has been an outstanding partner and was instrumental in elevating the status of the WeatherTech Championship and Continental Tire Challenge to new heights. We extend heartfelt appreciation to our friends at Continental for their unwavering support," he added.

Travis Roffler, Conti's director of marketing, said the tire maker is proud of the contributions it has made to motorsports in the U.S.

"We worked diligently to continue our support of IMSA, and the growth of the sport, and are disappointed in IMSA's decision to go a different direction," Roffler said. "We remain committed to making the 2018 IMSA season a fantastic year for the fans, drivers, and all the teams."

Since 2010, Continental made a considerable investment to develop and produce race tires that fit IMSA's specifications. In 2016 it acquired Hoosier Racing Tire Corp., the Lakeville, Ind.-based company that had produced Conti's race tires under contract.

Continental's other racing activities in North America are focused on the General brand, both as the spec racing tire for the ARCA Racing Series and as a competitor brand in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series.

Scott Clark, MNA's executive vice president and chief operating office, said, "The continued growth and success of the WeatherTech Championship and IMSA's related series provides a great platform for us to engage performance enthusiasts and showcase our Michelin Pilot Sport family of ultra-high-performance tires.

"Michelin does not enter into long-term collaborations lightly or solely for our own benefit," he added. "We are committed to IMSA, the competitors and fans to help continue the growth and success of the series on and off the track. This is a tremendous opportunity to work together to grow the sport."

The contract includes Michelin's becoming the "entitlement partner" of a new IMSA series, the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup, that will start in 2019. The four-round competition recognizes top competitors in each class in the four WeatherTech Championship major endurance races: the Rolex 24 At Daytona; Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring; Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International; and the 10-hour Motul Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.

The deal complements Michelin's position as a supplier of race tires for the World Endurance Championship—which includes the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans—the FIA World Rally Championship, FIA Formula E Championship and the FIM MotoGP World Championship.