Rally Monte Carlo Gets Underway With Pirelli

For Pirelli the start of the 76th Monte Carlo Rally marks an important new chapter in its sporting history. This event will be the first WRC rally in which all the teams will use Pirelli control tyres, as part of an exclusive three-year tyre supply deal. The Italian firm has produced three different types of tyre for the world rally season, one of which is available in two different versions. Pirelli’s choice of tyres has been guided by a strict specification brief from the FIA.

As well as the Pirelli PZero – designed for asphalt rallies – and the Pirelli Scorpion for gravel events, the all-new Pirelli Sottozero will be used on winter events. This tyre is available in a narrow size with longer studs, for heavy snow and ice such as is found in Sweden, and also a wider version with the option of adding short studs – which has been specially designed for the unique conditions of Monte Carlo event.

Pirelli is also the exclusive tyre supplier for the FIA Group N Championship (known as the P-WRC). As well as this major engagement, Pirelli states it is also proud to have secured another exclusive three-year contract, supplying the Grand Am series in the US. This prestigious championship also gets going this weekend, with the famous Daytona 24 Hours.

Paul Hembery, Pirelli’s motorsport director, commented: “It’s a privilege and a huge satisfaction for us to become the exclusive tyre supplier to one of only three world championships organised by the FIA. With Pirelli’s early roots in road racing, supplying tyres to the World Rally Championship – including the PWRC – fits in perfectly with our company’s DNA. I’m confident that the Monte Carlo Rally will be the start of a remarkable new era in Pirelli’s motorsport history.”