Despite the arctic-like weather which is poised to move in over much of France this week, there will be plenty to keep the crowds warm in the streets of Clermont-Ferrand, since the Audi R15 TDI road show starring the Le Mans-winning team is about to hit town!

This won’t be the first time Michelin has staged an event of this type in the centre of its home city.

In 2005, rallying’s world champions Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena performed demonstration laps with the Xsara WRC in front of more than 10,000 spellbound spectators as the Citroën pair put on a show of donuts and jumps. Seb and Daniel also visited the workshops where their WRC tyres are manufactured and completed several laps of the firm’s nearby Ladoux test track.

The Renault F1 in Clermont-Ferrand streets

The following year saw the Place de Jaude, in the heart of the city, converted into a race paddock with a view to celebrating Michelin’s Formula 1 world title with Renault. The roar of the 750hp V8 very nearly woke up the Auvergne region’s dormant volcanoes as Heikki Kovalainen provided the entertainment at the wheel of the Renault F1 R26.

This Thursday, it will be the singular pitch of Audi’s 600hp bi-turbo diesel V10 that will echo up and down the avenues of Clermont-Ferrand where another huge turnout is expected. The paddock area and circuit are in the process of being set up.

Audi, Michelin, road show