Back After a Short Break….

An international motor sport event has not taken place on Russian soil since before the First World War, when the St Petersburg Grand Prix was held on 31st May 1914 with victory going to the German Willy Schoel, driving a Benz. This almost century-long absence from the international motor sport scene is now finally being remedied, with St Petersburg hosting the start of Rally Russia, the fourth round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

Pirelli Competizioni is participating in this significant event through its support of European champion Renato Travaglia, competing in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX Group N, and the official Honda Civic Type-Rs driven by Dani Solà and Luca Betti. After leaving St Petersburg, the rally stages will be based in the Vyborg region near the Finnish border, about 140 Km to the north of the city. The race will be held on extremely fast unsurfaced roads with lots of jumps.

Spaniard Dani Solà, former World Junior Champion who is now driving a Honda Civic Type-R fitted with Pirelli PZero tyres in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, commented “one of the most interesting aspects of this rally is certainly the fact that it is unknown territory for everyone – this enables us to assess the precise level of competitiveness of our vehicle that is extremely promising”.

Pirelli Competizioni will also be supporting several private drivers over the two legs that are made up of 11 special stages and 151 competitive kilometres. The rally commenced in Isaakievskaya Square in the centre of St Petersburg on July 13, and finishes in the same place the following day.