Broadening its product range, Pirelli Tire North America announced the newest addition to the P Zero line – the P Zero Nero GT. The tyre maker shared details about the new replacement tyre with US trade media last weekend; the following report comes from attendee Tire Review.
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Pirelli’s factory in Silao, Mexico, which was inaugurated in May 2012, has produced its millionth tyre and is gearing up to become the Italian tyre maker’s dominant NAFTA region supplier. Covering an area of 135,000 square metres, the Silao plant’s capacity will reach 3.5 million tyres in 2015. When fully operational in 2017, production is expected to reach 5.5 million pieces, according to Pirelli. The tyre maker’s total investment through 2017 will amount to approximately US$400 million.
Pirelli will sponsor the camping area situated on the Porsche Curves formerly known as the Porsche Owners International Village at Le Mans this weekend. Pirelli UK managing director, Dominic Sandivasci, commented: “We are delighted to sponsor the race camping village at Le Mans once again this year. Simply put, there is no better place to watch the race action than the Porsche Curves and the Pirelli camping village caters for everyone’s needs.”
During the second half of June, Silverstone is going to see a lot of Pirelli rubber laid down; while the Northamptonshire circuit will host Formula One’s British grand prix on 28-30 June, this coming weekend (15-16 June) will see the manufacturer take more than 500 tyres to the home of British motorsport. Pirelli Tyre UK motorsport operations manager Matthew Corby predicts that the triple-header of the Pirelli Ferrari Formula Classic, the Pirelli Ferrari Open and the Porsche Club Championship will make for a “flat out” weekend.
Pirelli Tire North America executive Tom Gravalos has been named CEO of Pirelli Neumaticos S.A. de C.V. in Mexico (Pirelli Mexico), effective immediately, reports Tire Review. Gravalos was vice president of marketing and OE for Pirelli Tire North America.
With much of the grid employing different tyre strategies at the season-opening Australian grand prix, Pirelli’s Motorsport director Paul Hembery believes that the winning drive by Lotus’ Kimi Raikkonen displayed the best understanding of the “deliberately bold” selection of rubber. Raikkonen won the Australian Grand Prix using a two stop strategy, having started the race on the P Zero Red supersoft tyre and then completing two stints on the P Zero White medium tyre. Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, the Finnish driver’s closest rival used a three-stop strategy, as did the rest of the top six.
Pirelli tyres will feature as original equipment on four high-profile Geneva show debuts. The Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster and Maserati’s latest Quattroporte both feature bespoke versions the Italian tyre maker’s P Zero, while a tailor-made version of the P Zero Corsa will be supplied to the McLaren P1 and Ferrari’s Enzo replacement, the LaFerrari.
After competing as one of three tyre suppliers to the Australian GT Championship in 2012, Pirelli’s Australian motorsport supplier Trofeo Motorsport has been granted the rights to become the control tyre supplier for the 2013 season, and the naming rights sponsor for the category for the next three years.
Bridgestone Australia has provided its Ferrari F2004 Formula One show car to the country’s National Motor Museum on a long-term loan. The car, an exact replica of the racer that won 15 out of 18 races in the 2004 Formula One season and scored 12 pole positions at the hands of Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello, was officially unveiled at the Adelaide-based museum on 12 December.
Derek Johnston rounded off a memorable season in the GT Cup after clinching the overall championship crown at Donington Park. Peter Smallwood claimed championship glory in Group 2 and Chris Bentley was crowned the winner in Group 3. Following the conclusion of this year’s series, tyre supplier Pirelli anticipated increased grid numbers as the series organiser looks to broaden both participant numbers and sponsorship.
Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel completed a perfect win to consolidate his lead in the Formula One Drivers’ Championship in India, using the low levels of degradation experienced with both of Pirelli’s P Zero compounds to finish at the head of a grid that mostly emulated his one-stop strategy. Vettel was fastest in every session to claim his fourth race victory in a row, achieving a similar feat to last year’s visit to the Buddh circuit – Pirelli points out that no other driver has ever led a lap there.
UK prestige pen manufacturer Sheaffer has added the Ferrari name to a new line of products for the first time. The iconic Italian brand was unveiled on four new Sheaffer pen models, which all include the Scuderia Ferrari Shield. The new collection features: the Ferrari VFM, the Ferrari 100, 300 and 500, all with the Scuderia Ferrari name engraved on the band, along with the Sheaffer White Dot symbol of prestige.
An unusual thing happened in the 2012 Avon Tyres British GT; the Motorbase pairing of Michael Caine and Daniele Perfetti that prevailed claimed the GT3 title at Donington Park despite not having won a race all season. The duo lined up eighth on the grid for the season finale of a remarkably close British GT Championship, but following an electrifying start to an action-packed race, a number of changes at the front of the pack included the pairing, which crossed the line in fourth place. Title sponsor Avon Tyres said the team had been rewarded for its consistency and clean racing; the duo stayed out of trouble to bring the Porsche 997 GT3-R home and clinch the title by 3.5 points, in dramatic fashion.
Lewis Hamilton recorded McLaren’s third consecutive win this year at the Italian Grand Prix, adopting a one-stop strategy to claim victory from Sauber’s Sergio Perez, who started from 12th on the grid, and used a different one-stop strategy to dazzling effect. Pirelli’s P Zero Silver hard tyre and P Zero White medium were the compounds available at Monza, and the two hardest tyres in the Formula One range showed good performance and durability. Hamilton ran 30 laps on the hard tyre at the end of the race, while the speed of the medium tyre – which Perez used for his 24-lap final stint – enabled him to lap more than two seconds faster than his closest rivals at one point.
Team Falken’s strong tyre performance and experience in last year’s victory allowed it to score a repeat performance at the Baltimore stage of the American Le Mans Series in the GT class. Having spent limited time on the track during practice, including some “light contact with the wall”, Team manager Derrick Walker chose Falken’s 2011 Baltimore tyres over the “new generation” tyres. “We relied on our track record at Baltimore, and the rest was indeed history,” stated Kevin Jones, Falken’s ALMS supervisor.
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