Pirelli’s history is very closely linked to the evolution of Motorsport. Ever since the first victory achieved in 1907 in the Peking-Paris raid Pirelli has known how to develop a specific range of competition tyres with a high technological content and excellent performance.
In Rallying Pirelli has always had a strong commitment, playing a role of protagonist. Involvement in the World Rally Championship dates back to its inception in 1973 and from then to 2010 Pirelli has recorded 25 championship titles. From 2008 to 2010 Pirelli was also the official Tyre Supplier to this series, the maximum expression of rally competitions around the world.
The experience gained in the WRC and the technical development made for asphalt, gravel, snow and ice rally tyres have been transferred to the national and international championships Pirelli has been participating at all over the world.
The latest partnerships with Citroen and Renault at European level underline Pirelli’s commitment to this exciting motorsport category.
From the 2011 WRC Championship a brand new series intended as the first step in the WRC for young drivers is being launched: the WRC Academy, conceived as the replacement of the Junior World Rally Championship. The WRC Academy is a one-make series: all drivers will be at the wheel of identical Pirelli-fitted Ford Fiesta R2s prepared by M-Sport.
Pirelli will supply asphalt and gravel specification tyres to the WRC Academy, which will be contested on both surfaces.
The WRC Academy programme includes six rallies: Rally of Portugal, Rally of Italy, Rally of Finland, Rally of Germany, Rally of France and Rally GB.
Pirelli has always been involved in promoting young drivers in all forms of motorsport and in 2008 launched the Pirelli Star Driver scheme, a global programme with the support of the FIA to promote young talents in rallying, allowing five drivers to compete in six WRC events at the wheels of a fully prepared Group N car.
Six Pirelli Star Drivers were selected in the past few months to compete in the new WRC Academy 2011 series: Fredrik Ahlin (Sweden), Craig Breen (Ireland), Jan Cerny (Czech Republic), Andrea Cugnola (Italy), Brendan Reeves (Australia) and Molly Taylor (Australia).
Photos of the WRC Academy can be found in the Media Gallery.
Rally of Portugal
24-27 March 2011
Rally of Italy
5-8 May 2011
Rally of Finland
28-31 July 2011
Rally of Germany
18–21 August 2011
Rally of France
28 September–1 October 2011
Rally GB
10-13 November 2011
From 2011 to 2013 Pirelli will be the exclusive tyre supplier to the Citroen Racing Trophy, a one-make series that this year will take place in 10 countries all over Europe: Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
The Citroen Racing Trophy is open to all of Citroen’s two-wheel drive rally cars, including the C2-R2 MAX and the recently-unveiled DS3 R3.
The cars will use a selection of Pirelli’s asphalt and gravel tyres this year, which are based on a technology that is similar to that of the covers supplied to the World Rally Championship in the past three years.
Specifically, the DS3 R3 will use of a 17-inch RX and RE asphalt tyre and a 15-inch K tyre on gravel, while the R2 cars will use the same range of tyres, but the asphalt RX and RE covers will be 16-inch.
Pirelli strengthens its presence in rallying also as exclusive tyre supplier of all rally series organized by Renault that will take place in several European countries from 2011 to 2013: in Italy, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Spain, France and otherm countries.
Pirelli will be involved in Renault's rally activities at a higher level too as sole supplier to its renowned European Trophy, which forms part of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
These championships are open to all of Renault's two-wheel drive rally cars such as the Clio Renault Sport R3 and Twingo Renault Sport R2, as well as the new Twingo Renault Sport R1. In addition, also the new Megane Renault Sport RS N4 will be fitted with Pirelli tyres.
In 2011 the cars will use a selection of Pirelli's asphalt and gravel tyres. These tyres are based on technology similar to the covers seen on the World Rally Championship in the last three years, when Pirelli was sole tyre supplier.
All cars will use the same range of tyres: the RX for asphalt, RE for wet conditions and K for gravel. The Twingo Renault Sport R1 will use a 15-inch tyre, the Twingo Renault Sport R2 has a 16-inch tyre, and the Clio Renault Sport R3 is fitted with a 17-inch tyre.
At national level Pirelli will continue to supply hundreds of drivers entering domestic rally championships. Here you can find some brief information on our presence in the various countries.
Rallying is a passion in Argentina.
The Argentinian Rally Championship is growing every year, showing a great technological level advance and can be compared to important large rallies worldwide, which brings even more competition for the category.
Copa Peugeot is the proof that also smaller cars can participate in a rally. Competing in Peugeot 207, 150HP, this series offers great thrills and struggles for lovers of speed rally. The championship includes seven events.
After the teams’ and drivers’ titles obtained in 2010 in the Chinese Rally Championship – a series open to various tyre manufacturers - , Pirelli will continue competing in the national series and will be the leading brand also in 2011.
The Pirelli Cup 2011 is a championship dedicated to rally drivers using Pirelli tyres in the Czech National Championship and the Czech Rally Sprint. The crew achieving the highest total points in five events will become Pirelli Cup winner.
In France Pirelli is present in both the French Rally Championship and the French Cup. Moreover, in order to further increase Pirelli’s presence in the French Cup, Pirelli has just created “Le Trophée Pirelli” which rewards best drivers equipped with Pirelli’s tyres. Participation is free, and driver who gets more points during the season wins 4 new tyres for the final of the Cup.
Pirelli has just sealed a three-year agreement as the exclusive supplier to the Citroen Racing Trophy. Even if the Trophy is run throughout 10 countries, more than 30 races are in France.
For more info please visit: www.pirelli.fr >
In 2011 Pirelli Greece will continue to participate in motorsport championships in the categories of Hill Climbing, Rally and Circuit. In 2010 Pirelli won the Rally championship with A. Vovos team.
The most popular championship is the National Hungarian Rally Championship that includes 6-7 events. Most of the races are on asphalt, others are usually on gravel. Pirelli tyres are used by many Hungarian rally drivers who have achieved great reasults during the past season.
In the Italian Rally Championship Pirelli has always played a leading role by providing tyres to drivers and cars winning several national titles.
Also in 2011 the collaboration with Peugeot Italia and the five-time Italian Champion Paolo Andreucci has been confirmed, as well as the presence in the Super 2000, in the Gr.N and in the 2WD categories.
Pirelli is also sponsor and sole supplier to the Italian Intercontinental Rally Challenge, that is run on asphalt.
Other Italian championships supplied exclusively with Pirelli tyres are the Citroen Racing Trophy, the Renault Trophies, the Peugeot Trophies and the Mitsubishi Evolution Cup.
For more info please visit: www.pirelli.it
Pirelli will participate in the Portugal Rally Championship, in the mono-brand cup Desafío Modelstand (Peugeot 206 Gr.A) and the new Citroen Racing Trophy.
Pirelli participate in the National Rally Championship that is very popular in Romania. The 2011 championship will start in April and will include 9 events, five on tarmac and four on gravel.
In 2011 Pirelli will participate in the Spanish Rally Championships that is run on gravel and asphalt. Moreover it will be the official supplier of the Challenge Twingo R2, of the new Colombes Rally Cup of Asturias and of the Top Ten Driver Pirelli Cup of Galicia.
In the Swiss Rally Championship 2011 Pirelli will have a new partner in Rally: Citroen with the C2 R2 and the brand new DS3 Trophy. Partnership with Renault for R1 Twingo and the R3 Clios will also continue.
In the Turkish Rally Championship Pirelli is Sponsor of the Ford Rally Team and supplier to most of the other teams competing in the Championship.
The British Rally Championship is the United Kingdom's premier rally championship. The BRC travels to every country in the UK as well as a round on the famous roads of the Isle of Mann. This year will see several key battles, including Pirelli Star Driver, Elfyn Evans taking on last years Star Driver and two time British Champion, Keith Cronin.
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