Sunday March 10th, 2002

Michelin are planning to introduce a new tyre at the Malaysian Grand Prix next weekend, the team said today, also stating that the tyre will meet FIA regulations.

Last season, in Michelin's only second race in F1 following their return to the sport, Williams driver Ralf Schumacher finished fifth at the Malaysian race, to give Michelin the first two World Championship points.

"At that stage we were still very much in the dark, but his third-fastest time in qualifying and fifth place in the race allowed us to begin thinking we were on the right track," Michelin's motorsport director, Pierre Dupasquier, recalls.

"This year, with the benefit of previous experience, we are bringing along tyres with different compounds and constructions. Naturally, these meet the letter and spirit of the laws laid down by motor sport's governing body, the FIA."

Michelin were under criticism last week from Ralf's teammate, Juan Pablo Montoya, who claimed the Michelin tyre was not a match to Ferrari's Bridgestone at Melbourne. However, despite criticsm, Dupasquier states the Australian Grand Prix was a vital experience to the French tyre maker.

"We might not have won in Melbourne," he said, "but we picked up a lot of vital data in a race that took place on a dry, consistent track."

Published at 18:55:55 GMT