PARIS—The Fedération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) has renewed its race tire supply contract with Group Michelin for the Formula e racing series for electric vechicles for the next five seasons.
Michelin has been involved in Fomula e since it was proposed in 2013 and has been a “technical partner” since.
Michelin Motorsport Director Pascal Couasnon called Formula e a “superb laboratory to foster innovation in the field of durable mobility in cities and built-up areas,” and said Michelin is “actively exploiting” this opportunity.
Neither the FIA nor Michelin disclosed the value of the contract.
Michelin's tire for Formula e—the Pilot Sport EV—is an 18-inch low-profile tire with a tread pattern that's designed to be used in both dry and wet conditions as well as for both practice/qualifying and the race itself.
“The FIA stipulated this ability to perform just as well on a wet surface as a dry one in the tender brief,” said Serge Grisin, manager of Michelin's Formula e program.
“What started out as an innovative feature of the Pilot Sport EV tire has gone on to become a prerequisite demanded by the sport's ruling body. This is a further sign of Michelin's pioneering spirit.”
Michelin said its expertise in the design and manufacture of energy-efficient, high-performance tires helped it gain the contract in the first place.
The tire maker said its recently unveiled Pilot Sport 4 tire has a tread pattern that's derived from Pilot Sport EV.
The 10-race 2015-16 Formula e season starts Oct. 24 in Beijing and concludes July 2, 2016, in London. All races are run in city centers predominantly on public roads closed off for racing. The U.S. round will be April 2 in Long Beach, Calif.