February 19, 2020 |
Pirelli Begins Development Of Tyres In Preparation For The 2021 World Rally Championship
Pirelli announced the development of its tyre range for the 2021 World Rally Championship, for which Pirelli are the sole tyre supplier. Pirelli was the official sponsor of the GP Ice Race, which was held in the Austrian town of Zell am See, and featured both modern and historic cars as well as true classics from the golden age of rallying. The Italian company displayed the first tyre that will be part of their latest WRC era., The tyre, which will be used by the top tier World Rally Cars equipped by Pirelli from next season, is a ‘Sweden’ specification studded Sottozero Ice J1 tyre, in 205/65 R15 size.
AUSTRIAN ICE: A TOUGH TEST FOR PIRELLI’S STUDS – AND ICE TYRE TECHNOLOGY
Pirelli supplied Sottozero Ice tyres, equipped with seven-millimetre studs, as well as Sottozero Snow tyres with two-millimetre studs for both the historic and modern cars racing on the icy track at Zell am See. These tyres have tread patterns using robust blocks and tungsten-tipped studs, which guarantee optimal traction, handling and performance on snowy or icy surfaces.
Pirelli’s regularly transfers the winter tyre experience derived from motorsport to its road tyres. The company has a ‘race to road’ philosophy, which utilises the knowledge they have gained from more than 110 years of motorsport. With this process they develop tyre technologies that improve safety and performance for everyday motorists. The ‘Sweden’ Sottozero Ice makes full use of Pirelli’s proprietary technologies, and on these tyres, the studs are built into the tyre during the vulcanisation process, rather than being inserted afterwards. This technology is unique to Pirelli and helps the retention of the studs, thus maximising performance in competition.
Terenzio Testoni, Pirelli’s head of rally and off-road activities, commented: “The GP Ice Race is an important international event for fans of motorsport and the world’s most iconic cars. The icy track provides a spectacular arena for cars from different eras to compete against each other, with Pirelli tyres designed specifically for these conditions helping to make the action even more thrilling.”
PIRELLI: FROM RALLYING SUCCESS TO PERFORMANCE ON THE ROAD
Pirelli has been active in rallying since 1973 when the championship started. They have claimed 25 world titles and 181 rally victories. They have put this extensive experience to great use by returning to the World Rally Championship as sole supplier from 2021 to 2024. In the recent past, Pirelli was sole supplier from 2008 to 2010, while since 2018 it has supplied tyres to the WRC2 and Junior WRC categories.
Pirelli has used rallying has helped to create products and technologies that are still being used in their range today. First and foremost is the P Zero, a tyre that was originally designed in motorsport for the Lancia Delta S4. This formidable car was a beast whose performance demanded a tyre especially made for it. The P Zero name was subsequently transferred to road tyres and represents the very hallmark of Pirelli, as well still utilising some of the technical concepts from those early days of Group B rallying. Pirelli’s presence in the World Rally Championship will sit alongside the company’s support of Formula 1, where it has been sole supplier since 2011.
Source: Pirelli
