05.01.2009

Michelin and Corvette Enthusiasts Unite

Michelin and Corvette Enthusiasts Unite

Michelin and Corvette enthusiasts unite at the Ron Fellows Performance Driving School [Greenville, S.C., May 1, 2009).

To a driving enthusiast, it doesn’t get much better than an opportunity to learn from a professional driver. Now, the Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch (SMMR), Nevada’s premier driving school, and Michelin North America have teamed up to offer consumers an ultra-high performance experience led by Ron Fellows, one of the most celebrated names in Corvette Racing.

The Michelin/Corvette pairing has already proven to be a success as the Michelin® Pilot® Sport PS2 TM ZP tires were chosen as original equipment for the 2009 Corvette ZR1. As part of the Ron Fellows Driving Experience, consumers will experience the highly-capable Michelin® Pilot® Sport PS2 TM ZP tires which provide superior levels of cornering grip, straight-line traction, ride, comfort, noise reduction and extended tread life for confident everyday driving.

In addition to the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP tires developed for the Corvette ZR1, Michelin also offers replacement tire sizes for the C5, C6 and C6 Z06 models (coming in August 09 for the Z06). All vehicles at the Ron Fellows Performance Driving School will ride on either Michelin® Pilot® Sport PS2 TM ZP tires or Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires.

“Our partnership with Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch and Ron Fellows is a natural extension of the relationship we have built with Corvette and Corvette Racing over the years,” said Nicolas Goubert, brand category manager, Michelin North America. “We look forward to offering school participants an experience that is unmatched as two power performers like Michelin and Corvette come together on the track.”

The Michelin-Corvette relationship has proven to be a winning combination since 2004 through a highly-interactive partner-team relationship in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. With an overall series record of 51 victories out of 59 races in the GT1 series, Michelin has helped Corvette Racing dominate on the track by developing and delivering performance-proven products for the most successful Corvette race cars in the team’s history.

Spring Mountain’s purpose-built, 3.5-mile road course of esses, banks, blind drops, off-camber corners and straights challenges drivers with elements inspired by the world renowned Long Beach Grand Prix Street Circuit and the Mosport International Raceway.

Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks, motorcycles and the space shuttle. The company also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America (www.michelinman.com) employs more than 22,600 and operates 19 major manufacturing plants in 17 locations.