Michelin shrugs off world championship supplier loss

French tyre maker Michelin has shrugged off a decision by the International Automobile Federation to select Pirelli as the sole tyre supplier to the world rally championship.

The Clermont Ferrand-based group also lost its role in Formula One last year after Bridgestone was selected as sole supplier.

"We made an offer with our BF Goodrich brand because we believed we had something good to offer, and it creates a certain publicity. But our offer was not retained," Frederic Henry-Biabaud, director of competition at Michelin, told Reuters yesterday.

"It was a deal for a sole supplier, and in general we prefer to be in competition," he said, adding Michelin was supplier to many national rally championships, motorcycle races and the international rally challenge.

"We will remain very active in the competitions," he said.