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.
Since 2011 Pirelli has been the exclusive Tyre Supplier to the WRC Academy.
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 partnerships with Citroen and Renault at European level underline Pirelli’s commitment to this exciting motorsport category.
Launched in the 2011 as the replacement of the Junior World Rally Championship, the WRC Academy is a new series intended as the first step in the WRC for young drivers.
The WRC Academy is a one-make series with all drivers at the wheel of identical Pirelli-fitted Ford Fiesta R2s prepared by M-Sport.
Pirelli supplies asphalt and gravel specification tyres to the WRC Academy, which is contested on both surfaces.
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.
In 2012 the WRC Academy programme will include six rallies: Rally Portugal, Acropolis Rally, Rally Finland, Rally Germany, Rally France and Rally Spain.
The inaugural 2011 FIA WRC Academy Cup was won by the young Irish rally talent Craig Breen.
Rally de Portugal
29 March - 1 April 2012
Acropolis Rally
25-27 May 2012
Rally Finland
2-5 August 2012
Rally Deutschland
24-26 August 2012
Rally de France
4-7 October 2012
Rally de España
1-4 November 2012
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 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 Pirelli covers supplied to the World Rally Championship in the recent years.
Specifically, the DS3 R3 uses a 17-inch RX and RE asphalt tyre and a 15-inch K tyre on gravel, while the R2 cars use the same range of tyres, but the asphalt RX and RE covers are 16-inch.
Pirelli has strengthened 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 other countries.
Pirelli is 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 is fitted with Pirelli tyres.
The cars 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 recent years, when Pirelli was sole tyre supplier.
All cars use the same range of tyres: the RX for asphalt, RE for wet conditions and K for gravel. The Twingo Renault Sport R1 uses 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.
FIA Asia Pacific ‘Pacific’ Rally Championship
Pirelli will support the New Caledonian entrant Jean-Louis Leyraud in a Citroen DS3 in the Pacific Cup
Pirelli is present in the Renault Trophy, the Citroen Rally Championship and the Ford Fiesta Rally Trophy.
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.
For more info please visit: www.pirelli.com.br
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.
Pirelli is also present as exclusive supplier to the Citroen Rally Championship.
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 had a strong presence among all national championships and races with many individual successes.
In 2012, Pirelli will continue its participation in Greek motorsport championships in the categories of Hill Climbing and Rally.
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.fr
New Zealand Rally Championship
Pirelli will continue supporting Chris West and the Mitsubishi Rally Team
Citroen Trophy
The Citroën Racing Trophy continues in 2012. This is the only monobrand Series present in the Portuguese Rally Championship.
Copa Peugeot Modelstand
Included in the Open Championship Rally de Portugal is for a young driver involved with the Peugeot 206Gti.
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.
Challenge Renault Twingo R2
The Challenge Twingo R2 is open to all Twingo R2 with FIA regulations and consists of 6 events in the Championship Tarmac Rally Spain (Vila-Joiosa, Canary Islands, Cantabria, Ourense, Prince of Asturias and Madrid). The top 5 results are valid for the final classification.
Top Ten Driver Pirelli
The Challenge The “Copa Top Ten Pirelli Driver” is included in the Galician Rally Championship.
In 2012, the series will retain the successful format of the previous year including also the two-wheel drive.
Campeonato de Galicia de R2
This will be a new Championship in Galicia with a very good spectatives of future.
In the Swiss Rally Championship Pirelli is present together with Renault R1, Citroen C2 R2 and DS3 and Ford R2.
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.
British Rally Championship
Pirelli have recently extended their agreement with the British Rally Championship that will see them remain as the sole tyre supplier until the end of the 2014 season. In 2012 the British Rally Championship will switch to a 2WD only championship in a bid to make rallying more accessible to both competitors and manufacturers.
The 2012 Pirelli Star Driver, Jukka Korhonen will be driving a Skoda Fabia R2 in his bid to crowned British Rally Champion.
For more info please visit: www.pirelli.co.uk
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