WRC Supply Open to All Tyre Makers in 2011

As of 2011, tyre supply to the FIA World Rally Championship is will be open to any tyre manufacturer. On June 23 the FIA gave public notice that the regulations covering tyre supply have been amended to “control costs”. These altered regulations will be presented to the World Motor Sport Council for a fax vote before July 20. The FIA Junior World Rally Championship will, however, continue with a single tyre supplier.

This WRC amendment was influential in Pirelli’s decision to reduce its financial commitment to the rally championship in 2011. In outlining the financial arrangements for its Formula One tyre supply for the 2011 to 2013 seasons, Pirelli chairman and CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera commented “the advertising campaign will be switched from other campaigns where we will reduce our budgets. For example, in rally there will be a number of suppliers from the start of next year so we will reduce our budget.” No specific details of the extent to which its budget will decrease have yet been given.