When a driver or a team wanted to race with Michelin tires in the early sixties, they had a very limited choice because the manufacturer was not really interested in competition. Then everything changed with the arrival of Pierre Dupasquier, who completely set up the racing department – including the premises – and became the legendary Competition Director of the Michelin Group.
To do this, Pierre (seen above with his beloved Ducati 916) had the full support of Édouard Michelin, the CEO of the firm at the time. Edouard Michelin was a racing enthusiast, who one day unintentionally made himself famous during a car rally. Before departure, there was a special stage dedicated to the show, with two cars each carrying a VIP. At one point, Edouard Michelin was the passenger in one car, and his wife in the other.
The car carrying Edouard Michelin was victorious, and when asked if he was happy to have beaten his wife, he replied “ I like to beat my wife », which earned him a certain notoriety among jokers of all stripes.
The most important thing is that he always provided unfailing support to Pierre Dupasquier who built a competition department so effective that Michelin won World Championships in 125, 250 and 500, MotoGP, Superbike, endurance, motocross, enduro, trial and Dakar . In automobiles, victories followed one another in F1, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in rallies and the Dakar, and even also in road cycling and mountain biking.
Here are Michelin's beginnings in motorcycle racing, as Pierre Dupasquier experienced them:
Photos © Michelin
Thanks to Patrice Graux
