BF Goodrich's stint in the
FIA World Rally Championship will come to an end on the Rally GB this weekend, with a score of four world titles and almost certainly 32 world class wins to its name.
The BF Goodrich brand will make way for rivals Pirelli next year, who were awarded the tyre tender by the FIA for the period 2008-2010 back in February 2007 – a decision which still irks Michelin.
Speaking ahead of this weekend's event in Wales, Michelin Group's competition director Frédéric Henry-Biabaud, noted that they will go out with their heads high.
He was also keen to emphasise that BFGoodrich's commitment to rallying will continue through its presence in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge and in various national championships.
“I am extremely proud of the work put in by everyone at BFGoodrich," said Henry-Biabaud. “We leave the WRC with our heads high. This may be the end of an adventure, but it's the beginning of another.
“In 2008, BFGoodrich will step up its involvement in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, as well as in several national championships. The IRC is growing fast and stands out as a fiercely contested series that permits free competition.
“The national series represent the sport's grass roots and will durably establish the BFGoodrich name at national level.”
BF Goodrich tyres first appeared in the WRC two years ago, when Michelin took the decision to promote its sister brand, which then was primarily only known in the world of rally-raids and in the 4x4 market.
2006 saw BF Goodrich take a clean sweep and win all 16 rounds and secure both titles with its official ‘partners' Kronos-
Citroen and BP-Ford, while Pirelli, who only had one ‘works' team - namely
Subaru - were unable to respond.
This season BF Goodrich has again led the way, although following Pirelli's decision not to compete in ‘07, the company supplied all the manufacturer teams.
