Feature: Michelin's 2004 WRC season in figures.

On the eve of the season's final showdown, Rally Australia, Michelin has every reason to be pleased with the results of its 2004 FIA World Rally Championship campaign.

Citroen took the number of consecutive world titles won by the Clermont-Ferrand based company since 1998 to seven, while Sebastien Loeb became the tenth champion to clinch the Drivers' title with Michelin.

In addition to this year's 'Manufacturers/Drivers' double, Bibendum can also take pride from the fact that its tyres won on every one of the 'families' of surface featured in the sport's premier series, including yet another grand slam on the calendar's two winter events and on the three 'clear' asphalt encounters.

Another source of satisfaction has been the seamless introduction of the principle of allocating a set number of tyres per driver according to the characteristics of each rally. The fruit of collective deliberation by the tyre firms, teams and the FIA, this system - which took effect from February's Swedish Rally - has significantly reduced the numbers of tyres taken to events without compromising either performance, safety or the sporting interest.

Based on the experience of 2004, these individual quotas are poised to come down further in the future in keeping with a three-year plan that takes into account the specific case of events that are new to the championship and which demands enhanced awareness on behalf of the organisers.

2...

The number of WRC world titles won by Michelin's partners in 2004. Citroen and Ford came first and second in the Manufacturers' classification, while Sebastien Loeb (Citroen) secured the Drivers' title. Markko Martin (Ford) and Carlos Sainz (Citroen) still have a chance of taking the silver medal in the Drivers' points table...

36...

The number of world titles (19 'Manufacturers' and 17 'Drivers') won by Michelin since the creation of the World Rally Championship in 1973 (Drivers' championship created in 1979). A record.

10 from 15...*

The number of victories scored by Michelin's partners in 2004 (Monte Carlo, Sweden, Mexico, Cyprus, Turkey, Argentina, Finland, Germany, France, Spain).

8...*

The number of all-Michelin podiums in 2004: Monte-Carlo (the top-6 finishers on Michelin tyres), Mexico, Cyprus, Argentina, Finland (top-10), Germany (top-7), France (top-4), Catalonia (top-4). Michelin runners also secured one-two finishes in Sweden and Turkey.

3...*

The number of manufacturers who won at least one round of the 2004 World Rally Championship on Michelin tyres (Citroen 6, Ford 3, Peugeot 1).

4...*

The number of drivers who won at least one round of the 2004 World Rally Championship on Michelin tyres (Loeb 5, M?rtin 3, Gronholm 1, Sainz 1).

6...*

The number of 'families' of surface on which Michelin tyres won at least once in 2004: 'wintry' asphalt (Monte Carlo: 1st, Loeb/Citroen), snow/ice (Sweden: 1st, Loeb/Citroen), low-wearing gravel (Finland: 1st, Gronholm/Peugeot. Argentina: 1st, Sainz/Citro?n), average-wearing gravel (Mexico: 1st, M?rtin/Ford), hard-wearing gravel (Cyprus and Turkey: 1st, Loeb/Citroen) and 'clear' asphalt (Germany: 1st, Loeb/Citroen. Corsica and Catalonia: 1st, Martin/Ford). NB: each of the three 'clear' asphalt rounds featured a mixture of wet, damp and dry conditions.

212...*

The number of WRC wins scored by Michelin since the creation of the World Rally Championship in 1973. It is - by far - an absolute record. The 200th win was the work of Markko Martin (Ford) in Finland in August 2003.

(*) denotes: up to but not including Rally Australia.