Highcroft Racing's HPD ARX-01e LMP1.

Highcroft Racing has unveiled its new Honda Performance Development ARX-01e LMP1 machine – the new car which the back-to-back American Le Mans Series champions will take into battle at next week’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

The final driver to do battle alongside David Brabham and Marino Franchitti in the ARX-01e will be revealed tomorrow, but the three Highcroft drivers will have an additional vastly experienced “co-driver” riding beside them – the Michelin Man.

Known internationally as “Bibendum”, the Michelin Man and branding for the new MICHELIN® Pilot® Super Sport tire will appear prominently on the side of the #01 machine at Sebring.

The new MICHELIN® Pilot® Super Sport tire (Ultra High Performance street tires) will launch in the U.S. on April 1. These are the highest performing street tires that Michelin has ever offered. The new tires are “born from endurance racing” at places like Sebring and Le Mans.

Highcroft Racing and HPD have been strong partners with Michelin since the commencement of the Acura program in 2007, and the forthcoming opening round of the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron and the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup at Sebring presented an ideal opportunity to showcase the soon-to-be-released MICHELIN® Pilot® Super Sport tire.

Over the past four years, Highcroft Racing has clinched 11 ALMS wins, nine poles, 27 podiums and two championships on Michelin tires.

“Highcroft has been a tremendously successful partner with Michelin over the past four years and the forthcoming Sebring race presented an ideal opportunity to explain how the MICHELIN® Pilot® Super Sport tire was born from endurance racing,” said Silvia Mammone, Michelin & BFGoodrich Motorsports Manager.

“Two of the three most innovative technologies featured in the MICHELIN® Pilot® Super Sport tires are derived directly from endurance racing. Both the Twaron (twore-on) belt and the Bi-compound tread were actually developed in competition at Sebring and Le Mans.

“The impending launch of the MICHELIN® Pilot® Super Sport tire and the timing of the Twelve Hours of Sebring enabled us to take advantage of this opportunity to showcase the product though the American Le Mans Series’ new US television package.

“We’re delighted the Highcroft team will have the Michelin Man along for the ride for the 12 hours – further lessons learned from this Sebring race will make it into the road tires of the future.”