Known for its style, speed and performance marketing values, Pirelli & C. S.p.A. is a multinational company based in Milan, Italy, listed on the Milan Stock Exchange since 1922, with a temporary privatization period by the consortium led by the Chinese state-owned enterprise ChemChina.
According to the results of one recent comparative test, Continental is on top down under. The German tyre maker landed first place in the summer tyre test conducted by Australia’s “Choice” magazine. A total of 15 size 205/60 R 16 tyres, fitted to a Holden Cruze (sold in the UK and Europe under the Chevrolet name), were tested on a Queensland racetrack for handling, braking distance and ride comfort.
Pirelli’s Board of Directors will now meet to review results for the six months ended 30 June on 5 August 2013, instead of on 29 July as previously announced. Other planned dates remain the same; Pirelli will present its new 2013-2017 Industrial Plan to the financial community on 6 November 2013, after the approval of results for the nine months ending 30 September 2013, scheduled for 5 November, as previously announced.
Pirelli has detailed plans to put the second half of its US$400 million investment in the company’s Silao, Mexico factory towards so-called “green performance” tyre production. Mexico’s president Enrique Peña Nieto met with a delegation of Pirelli’s top management who illustrated the progress of the company’s investment in the country at the announcement.
Giti Tire has announced the appointments of Robert Koutny as sales director Eastern Europe, and Maurizio Moleri as truck and bus manager for Spain and Portugal. The manufacturer has been building its European team throughout 2013 since officially launching its GT Assist commercial vehicle roadside service assistance programme in the UK and Republic of Ireland in January.
Pirelli has won the 2013 Volkswagen Group Award for its global partnership, product quality, competitiveness, project management and flexibility. According to the company, VW’s “global champion” Pirelli has produced more than 200 homologations that equip some of the Wolfsburg carmaker’s most prestigious models. Another 250 homologations are currently under development, many of which will go into production within the next few years.
Pirelli has released two statements to explain the reasons behind the spate of tyre failures at the British grand prix. The exclusive tyre supplier said that the “sophisticated” asymmetric construction of the current P Zero Formula One slicks meant that tyre management methods employed by teams, such as mounting rear tyres on the opposite side to that for which they were designed, reduced tyre pressures, and extreme cambers had combined with the high kerbs at Silverstone to cause the problems, which Pirelli Motorsport director Paul Hembery described as “completely unexpected”. While Hembery was adamant that the “2013 range of tyres, used in the correct way, is completely safe”, he accepted that Pirelli had “underestimated” the effects that these unconventional running techniques would have on the tyres, and had declined to forbid mounting tyres the wrong way around. In future, Pirelli is seeking, with the agreement of FIA, FOM, the teams and the drivers, greater control over the ways in which its F1 tyres are utilised.
Pirelli has identified last month’s successful introduction of its new Diablo Superbike SC1 rear tyre at Knockhill as an important factor for the MCE British Superbike Championship’s return to Snetterton. The high speed circuit, combined with the possibility of high track temperatures will make the softer compound tyre a popular choice, according to the series tyre supplier. A test held at the circuit last week provided Pirelli with good feedback as most teams sampled race simulations for tyre wear.
Pirelli has announced that it will revert to its 2012 construction P Zero Formula One tyres in time for the Hungarian grand prix. For this weekend’s German grand prix only it will provide teams with rear tyres constructed with Kevlar belts at the Nürburgring. Pirelli says the aim of this is to reduce the tyres’ susceptibility to cuts, while Kevlar has the advantage of reducing the working temperature of tyres by around 10 degrees Centigrade. The concern remains that this may alter the competitiveness of some teams’ cars. The reduced damage resistance and hotter running of the steel belt construction tyres are thought to have been two of the factors leading to the high profile tyre failures witnessed at Silverstone.
The Foreign Policy Association (FPA) has awarded Pirelli chairman and CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera the 2013 Social Responsibility Award for his ongoing endeavours in sustainability.
Pirelli has introduced the latest addition to its P Zero family: the new Pirelli P Zero Nero GT. Available in a wide range of fitments, the new ultra high performance tyre was introduced for 2013. The tyre’s headline improvement is increased durability, which Pirelli says it has achieved without affecting driving pleasure, safety and performance. Also underlining the importance of the high performance segment to Pirelli is May 2013’s 50th anniversary celebration of its partnership with Lamborghini.
Mercedes and Pirelli have been reprimanded for their roles in the controversial tyre test in Barcelona, which followed the pit stop-heavy action of the Spanish grand prix. BBC chief F1 writer Andrew Benson reports that the FIA found Mercedes to be in breach of Formula One rules and subsequently banned the team from taking part in this year’s young driver test at Silverstone on 17-19 July. The BBC reports that the FIA, Mercedes and Pirelli will share equally the costs of the investigation.
Mercedes and Pirelli are waiting for the FIA’s decision on whether any rules were broken during the controversial tyre test that took place in Barcelona in the week after the Spanish grand prix. Pirelli counsel Dominique Dumas contends that it cannot be subject to the FIA’s jurisdiction as it is a supplier, though the FIA has responded that Pirelli’s contract binds the tyre supplier by Formula One regulations.
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.”
Shane “Shakey” Byrne rode his Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki to two victories over Tyco Suzuki’s Josh Brookes this weekend at Knockhil, as British Superbike tyre supplier Pirelli ran its new for 2013 SC1 Diablo Superbike rear tyre. In qualifying with a 48.333 second lap for pole position Byrne beat his young rival Brookes by just 0.010 seconds. Brookes managed to set the fastest race lap too, at 48.769 seconds, and Pirelli has pointed out that this was achieved on the new SC1 rear tyre on the penultimate 29th lap – a statistic that speaks highly of the tyre’s durable performance.
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