WRC: Michelin tyre tender appeal dismissed.

[Rory Phoulorie]

Michelin's bid to get the FIA tyre tender decision for the WRC from 2008-2010 - which went in the favour of rivals, Pirelli, annulled due to alleged 'irregularities' has failed at the first hurdle, after a French court dismissed the action.

Michelin announced it would began legal proceedings against the FIA, the sports governing body on March 12, after Pirelli won the rights to become the control tyre for the WRC from next year. However despite this latest set-back, the French tyre manufacturer is undeterred and has now confirmed that it will appeal against the decision of the court.

The brief statement put out by Michelin read: �A French court of first instance (Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris) has dismissed Michelin's request to annul the FIA tender due to certain irregularities. Michelin intends to appeal the decision of the court of first instance.�

Michelin currently supply all the teams in the World Rally Championship, via sister brand, BFGoodrich, however the decision by the World Motor Sport Council, announced at the end of February, has left the French tyre manufacturer extremely upset.

Indeed BFGoodrich rally competition director, MR F. Henry-Biabaud has already said that the decision was obviously based on criteria unknown to them and 'unrelated to sports'.

Pirelli meanwhile has since issued its own release, headlined: 'Pirelli obtains favourable court ruling regarding the tender for the World Rally Championship 2008-2010.'

The full statement from the Italian tyre manufacturer basically mirrored that issued by Michelin: "The Tribunal of the Grande Instance of Paris today rejected the legal action presented by Michelin against the decision of the FIA to allocate to Pirelli the sole supplier contract for the World Rally Championship 2008-2010. The Tribunal, after having examined the offers presented by Pirelli and Michelin, and the transcripts of clarifications provided by the parties during the tender process, has rejected all of the Michelin demands."

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