BFGoodrich brand eliminated from the WRCAfter Michelin pulled out of Formula One in protest of the control-tyre rules, the French company is once again at loggerheads with the sport's governing body.
Through its BFGoodrich brand, Michelin is the leading supplier
in the FIA's World Rally Championship, but has missed out to Pirelli after tendering for the three year supply contract to commence in 2008.
"The financial and technical efforts we deployed for the past two seasons have not been acknowledged," Michelin's Frederic Henry-Biabaud said in a statement, adding that every rally team "unanimously supported our (tyre supply) proposal".
The statement added: "The BFGoodrich brand was therefore eliminated on the basis of criteria unknown to us but obviously unrelated to sports. For the time being, we take note of this decision."
Independent rally sources also indicated 'surprise' at the FIA's decision, as Pirelli do not currently supply any top WRC team following questionable performance in recent years.
Source GMM
