Williams Announce March Michelin Test.

Michelin have achieved a major coup in their build-up programme prior to their return to Formula One as a tyre supplier in 2001 with an announcment by Williams technical director Patrick Head that the Grove outfit will supply the French tyre giants with the exclusive use of one of last years FW21B's AND a base to run it from.


Williams have already confirmed that they will use the French tyres next year and Michelin will benefit greatly from any experience with the team that will almost certainly be the company's most competitive proposition in their first year in Formula One since 1984.


Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Head confirmed that the team will begin to test with Michelin in March and continue with development throughout the year hopefully gaining experience at F1 circuits after their 2000 races have taken place.


"We are establishing a small team to look after the Michelin testing with one of the old FW21B's," he told reporters. "It is certainly our intention to test at some Grand Prix venues after the 2000 races have taken place," he continued.


The test team could be run out of the former BMW Motorsport base at Williams' headquarters in Oxfordshire.


This announcment could herald the beginning of Formula One's latest tyre war as current supplier Bridgestone will almost certainly halt their supply of test tyres to Williams for fear of having any of their secrets leaked to their new rivals. Bridgestone have had a monopoly over tyres since Goodyear pulled out at the end of 1997.


Williams are taking a major gamble by beginning their test programme with Michelin so early, the first round of the 2000 season isn't until March 12th and Williams may find themselves stuck when it comes to ironing out any difficulties with the brand new BMW engine which has so far proved to be slightly troublesome. There could be a scenario where the team is unable to test their new engine on the tyres and car that it races with which in turn could have a knock on effect on reliability and race preparation.


Williams already face an uphill task this year with the development of the BMW units, whilst at the same time dealing with the immense publicity created by new signing Jenson Button. If the team is to remain at the sharp end of the F1 grid this season then it has to be wary of spreading itself too thinly.