HONG KONG — The Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and Group Michelin have renewed Michelin's contract as the official tire supplier of the FIA Formula E Championship through the end of the 2020/21 season.
The renewal of the partnership was announced in Hong Kong ahead of the start of the 2017/18 season. Michelin has supplied tires for the series since the inaugural season in 2014.
At that time, Michelin agreed to create treaded low-profile, 18-inch race tires for use in both wet and dry conditions.
Michelin's new contract will coincide with the series' next-generation cars set to debut in season five, when the electric-powered cars will be required to run twice the distance of the current cars.
Owing to the limited capacity of the batteries used in the current generation cars, drivers need to switch cars at mid-race under the existing rules.
"The contribution of Formula E to the evolution of the automobile is obvious and Michelin wants to move forward with the FIA," said Michelin Motorsport Director Pascal Couasnon, who noted that Formula E has become a "platform of innovation and communication" chosen by world's leading car makers.
FIA President Jean Todt lauded Michelin for showing a "commitment to technical innovation, developing racing tires with a clear focus on sustainability, efficiency and road relevance as well as performance."
The FIA expects as many as five car manufacturers — Audi, BMW, Citroen, Jaguar Land Rover and Renault — to be among the 10 team entrants next season.