Barrichello 2014 champion in Pirelli-shod Stock Car Brasil

Rubens Barrichello’s F1 days may be over, but the Brazilian driver has won another championship that Pirelli serves as exclusive tyre supplier to; he has taken out this year’s Stock Car Brasil, one of the most prominent motorsport series in South America. The Italian tyre maker has been sole tyre supplier to the championship since 2013.

The cars running in Stock Car Brasil have tubular chassis that are covered with silhouette bodies in order to give the appearance of a production model. The tyres used are Pirelli’s racing slicks and wets, similar to those used in GT racing, and there are compulsory pit stops to introduce an element of strategy. Grids of more than 30 cars are common, with 15 different drivers winning races this season.

Barrichello switched to the Brazilian stock car championship when his Formula One career finished at the end of 2011. During his F1 days, Barrichello racked up 322 grands prix – a record – with six teams, including six seasons spent with Ferrari. He won 11 races in total and finished second in the championship in 2002 and 2004.

After taking pole position, Barrichello led the final round of this year’s Brazilian Stock Car Championship at Curitiba, but dropped to fourth after a small spin on the opening lap. Nonetheless, he battled to third, which was enough to secure him the title.

“Rubens did a fantastic job in one of the most competitive and prominent race series out there, which showcases our high-performance tyres to a truly enthusiastic audience,” said Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery. “Brazil is a key market for Pirelli, and this latest victory underlines the prominence of our products.”