BIRMINGHAM, England — Michelin Motorsport is extending its involvement in the burgeoning electric vehicle racing movement, agreeing to be the tire supplier for a pair of new series for battery-powered cars and motorcycles.
The new series are the the "I-Pace eTrophy" racing series that will feature race-prepped versions of Jaguar's I-Pace sedan and the FIM Moto-e World Cup for electric motor bikes. The I-Pace series launches later this year while the Moto-e series starts in 2019.
The I-Pace eTrophy will be a support series for the FIA Formula-E championship, which Jaguar Racing joined in 2016 as a manufacturer entrant.
Michelin will supply specially designed tires for the I-Pace series, as it does for the Formula-E championship.
Michelin Motorsport Director Pascal Couasnon noted that this partnership reflects the company's "racing today for tomorrow's mobility" credo:
"We've been a partner of Formula-E from the outset and will be closely involved in the FIM Moto-e World Cup which kick offs in 2019," he said at the launch of the I-Pace program during the Autosport International motor racing show in Birmingham.
Michelin did not disclose details of the type of tire being developed for the I-Pace eTrophy cars.