Pirelli Announces ‘Extensive’ Investment in UK Motorsport

Pirelli has announced that the Italian manufacturer will invest “extensively “in the UK and Eire and is delighted to promote national championships, supporting customers and competitors alike, speaking at January’s Autosport show. Pirelli representatives told Tyres & Accessproes that are “very pleased” to announce that the company has a new UK distributor of Rally Tyres in D Mack Tyres Ltd which is based in Cumbria and is run by the former head of Motorsport for Pirelli Ltd, Dick Cormack. In Ireland, Pirelli said it is delighted to continue its 10-year partnership with Pitlane Motorsport.

The main focus of Pirelli’s Autosport stand was to highlight the companies links with the leading rallying events, particularly its position as exclusive tyre supplier to the WRC (World Rally Championship) for the three years between 2008 and 2010. The FIA world council, meeting in an extraordinary session in Paris, accepted Pirelli’s offer for the supply of tyres. Despite the well reported dissatisfaction of Michelin’s BFGoodrich brand, Pirelli reports that the FIA made its decision because it appreciated “not only the product and the firm’s capacity for technological innovation, but also the objective of nurturing young talent and promoting national championships. The tyres Pirelli will supply to the World Rally Championship will need to meet the tough demands put upon them by not just the cars of the WRC but also the environment of 16 countries visited by the Championship.”

At the end of 2007 Darren Gass was chosen as the Pirelli Star Driver for 2007 he will now compete in the 2008 British Rally Championship, in a fully paid drive in a car capable of winning the 2008 Championship. Pirelli will be working closely with Darren to give him experience both in and out of the car.

In addition, Pirelli reports that the company has been working hard over the past few months to secure some exciting new programmes for 2008 and beyond. Joining the British Rally Championship with a control tyre agreement for the Group N Category in 2008 is the MSA National Gravel Championship, the Championship will move to full control tyre in 2009 and 2010. Pirelli has also secured a control tyre supply to the Mitsubishi Evolution Challenge for 2008 in both the UK and in Eire.

Pirelli is also pleased to announce that it has secured a control tyre agreement for 2008 with the
Fiesta ST Championship, for Europe, the UK and Eire. As an extension of this and working with Msport, the home of the Ford World Rally Team, all new WRC Ford Focus’s will also be supplied on Pirelli’s PZero Rally Tyres – each and every car having a tuned set up to suit the Pirelli P Zero Tyres.

Pirelli will continue with its association with the Ferrari Owners Club, supporting the Ferrari Open, The Ferrari Classic and Hillclimb series, all of which will run on Pirelli’s PZero road and circuit tyres.