24h Le Mans
Records aren't just for constructors and drivers at the 24 Hours. For more than 100 years, competitors have tested their mettle at the race, many cementing their place in its hall of fame. Michelin is seeking to add to its extraordinary history with a very special record at Le Mans.
Tyres play a pivotal role at Le Mans. As in all motorsport, they must ensure performance and safety while behaving flawlessly across long periods of time. Ahead of every running of the 24 Hours, engineers at the top tyre manufacturers attempt to increase the durability of their rubber.
Tyre suppliers have tried their hand at the race for more than a century, with eight different ones winning the past 91 runnings. For quite some time, Dunlop's record was considered unbeatable (34 victories up until 1991 with Mazda). But since 1998, Michelin has steadily made up for lost time, winning the last 26 editions. The MIchelin Man will equip the entire Hypercar class once again for the 2024 FIA WEC and 24 Hours of Le Mans.
All together, that is a total of 32 wins for Michelin, against 34 for Dunlop, a record held for 33 years now on the verge of being matched and possibly beaten in the near future!
Incredibly, Michelin not only won the first running of the 24 Hours in 1923 (thanks to the Chenard & Walcker Sport), but last year's race as well.
The 1920s and 1930s at Le Mans were split between two other leading tyre manufacturers: Dunlop, founded in England in 1888 and the creator of the modern inflatable tyre, and Englebert, a renowned Belgian supplier also founded in the late 1800s. The British company was given a leg up thanks to the famous Bentley Boys, winners in 1924 then again from 1927 to 1930, who put their faith in Dunlop. This quickly afforded the marque special status at the 24 Hours.
For the inaugural race, Dunlop erected a footbridge to allow spectators to cross the track safely. The original structure resembled a Dunlop tyre, evolving over time until it was moved to its current location in 1965. The Dunlop Bridge is now considered a favourite spot for souvenir photos. Currently, the first curve of the circuit and the chicane that follows bear the last name of the pioneer John Boyd Dunlop.
Michelin failed to reach the top step on the podium at Le Mans between 1923 and 1978, but did greatly contribute to the race's reputation for innovation. In 1951, the French were the first to try radial tyres, on a Lancia Aurelia B20 GT. Thereafter, Michelin outfitted an Alpine A210 with slicks in 1967. It was a big first. In the interim, other suppliers continued to work at the 24 Hours: Englebert, the German company Continental (winner with Mercedes-Benz in 1952), the Italian manufacturer Pirelli (on top of the world with Ferrari in 1954) and Avon, a premiere British marque that helped Aston Martin win in 1959 but that is now in decline.
Shortly after, the French multinational and Dunlop became aware of the rise of a giant from across the Atlantic: Goodyear. Founded in 1898, the company was already widely respected for its innovations in the early 20th century when it decided to up its game at the dawn of the 1960s. Ferrari was the first to win the 24 Hours with Goodyear in 1965, followed by 13 more victories through 1997 with a TWR-Porsche. At the same time, another American marque, Firestone, burst onto the world's biggest stage, winning three times between 1968 and 1971.
Dunlop and Michelin evolved over time, battling on the track and surpassing the other reputable marques. In 2003, shockwaves hit the world's tyre industry when Goodyear bought Dunlop. The transition at the 24 Hours of Le Mans took a long time to manifest, but in 2020, the Americans became the sole manufacturer in LMP2, a category previously supplied by Dunlop and Michelin. This year, Goodyear will once again be the only tyre in the new LMGT3, reinforcing its reach across the globe and in endurance racing.
The influence is obvious at the circuit. In 2021, the iconic yellow Dunlop grandstands located outside the chicane of the same name was changed to Goodyear blue. The Club des Pilotes chicane in the pit straight was given the same makeover, but the footbridge remains all Dunlop. For the past several years, the public has been able to enjoy staggering views from the famous Goodyear Blimp, an airship in the marque's colours that was first deployed in 1972 and that made its comeback in 2020.
Michelin's presence is also underscored at the circuit. In 2013, the French company (the sole Hypercar tyre manufacturer since 2021), installed a classification tower at the end of pit lane. Extremely popular for its legibility, it allows spectators to follow positions changes in real time.
One thing is certain, no matter how the regulations change, these marques will always produce the only element of contact between the track and the cars, however developed they may be!
