Pirelli: Motorsport

Pirelli creates ‘Formula One Team' entirely dedicated to the development and production of tires for the highest level of global Motorsport

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:00:00 +0200

Pirelli creates ‘Formula One Team' entirely dedicated to the development and production of tires for the highest level of global

THE TIRES WILL BE DEVELOPED AT PIRELLI'S RESEARCH CENTRE IN
MILAN AND PRODUCED AT THE IZMIT FACTORY IN TURKEY, WHERE
PIRELLI'S OTHER COMPETITION TIRES ARE CURRENTLY MADE

THE FORMULA ONE PROJECT HAS NO IMPACT ON PIRELLI'S EXISTING
FINANCIAL STRATEGY

Milan, 24 June 2010 - The chairman of the Pirelli Group, Marco Tronchetti Provera, and Pirelli Tire's managing director, Francesco Gori, today presented to the media the company's plans for supplying tires to Formula One for the three-year period between 2011-2013.

The company's program includes the creation of a dedicated team for the development and production of Formula One tires. The Team of internal Pirelli human resources will be made up of engineers and researchers who have accumulated experience at the highest levels of motorsport: creating winning products for rallying, Superbike, the Rolex Sports Car Series in North America and GT racing, as well as various one-make series. This ensures that the other divisions of the company remain focused on the ongoing business.

In order to meet the Formula One teams' requirements in terms of reliability, safety and performance, Pirelli's engineers are already working on simulation models and tire compounds that will be most suited to the rigors of Grand Prix racing.

The Pirelli Formula One team will be an international group of people based in Milan, the home of Pirelli Tire's research and development department. This division has traditionally been at the heart of Pirelli's cutting-edge technology and is formed of 1000 research engineers, working in five development centers all over the world. Pirelli Tire allocates each year between 3 and 4% of its revenues, the highest level in the tire industry worldwide, to research. Motorsport activities have benefited for many years from the innovations introduced to high-performance tires by Pirelli's Research and Development.

The Formula One tires will be produced in the motorsport department of Pirelli's Izmit factory in Turkey, which is entirely dedicated to competition tires.

As established by the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile), the Pirelli Formula 1 supply agreement includes development of six different types of tire for the whole season. Four of these will be slick tires - with different compounds to suit various dry asphalt surfaces - and one will be a rain tire, for heavy precipitation. Finally there will be an intermediate tire, for damp conditions and light rain.

In co-operation with the teams, Pirelli is also ready to develop technical evolutions to the current tires for the future, regarding in particular the wheel size.

Today's economic climate has enforced a realistic and collaborative approach to share out the production and logistical costs associated with supplying tires to Formula One teams fairly. Pirelli will also invest in communications activities to leverage the technological and production values associated with Formula One, utilizing resources and budget that have already been set aside for this specific purpose. Formula One will become an important showcase for the Pirelli brand along with its commercial and industrial growth, without impacting on the company's existing financial strategy in any way.

In the coming years, Formula One is expected to attract around two billion television viewers per season, with important media coverage in emerging markets as well. Pirelli's business development and growth strategy, which is concentrated in these areas, will benefit hugely from the global visibility offered by Formula One, helping to promote the brand and maximize return on the marketing investment.

Further information, as well as photographs and videos, are available on the website
http://www.pirelli.com/web/media/press_area/default.page .

Pirelli confirmed as exclusive Formula One tire supplier from 2011

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0200

Pirelli confirmed as exclusive Formula One tire supplier from 2011 The Italian tire firm will supply all the Formula One teams from 2011-2013 with six types of tire: four for dry weather, one for rain and one intermediate.

Pirelli – which has supplied tires exclusively for the GP3 championship this year – will also supply the GP2 championship from 2011, becoming the sole provider of tires for the most prestigious single-seater championships in global motorsport.

The Milan-based firm is already present in the World Rally Championship, the World Superbike Championship, the Rolex Sports Car Series in North America, the Motocross World Championship and several other national championships for both cars and bikes.

Pirelli will supply tires to the Formula One World Championship for a three-year period between 2011 and 2013.

The FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile), the Teams, represented by FOTA (the Formula One Teams Association), and Formula One's organizing body, represented by FOM (Formula One Management) have chosen Pirelli as their exclusive supplier, based on the specific proposals from the Italian company to guarantee technical and operational stability to the competitors.
Following current Formula One regulations laid down by world motorsport's governing body, the FIA, the new contract ensures that Pirelli will provide teams with six different types of tire for the season: four slicks, with different compounds for various types of dry surfaces, one rain tire for heavy rain, and one intermediate tire for damp conditions or light rain.

The current economic climate has led to a realistic and collaborative approach with all the teams, ensuring that manufacturing and logistical costs are shared fairly.

Pirelli's return to Formula One also has a firm eye on the future, with full collaboration with all teams. Research into innovative new tire developments is a vital part of this exciting program.

Pirelli is also proud to announce that it will supply the GP2 World Series – the
acknowledged stepping-stone to Formula One – for the three-year period between 2011- 2013.
Pirelli's latest participation at the highest levels of single-seater racing make a welcome addition to the celebrated Italian firm's other motorsport activities including, from this year, a tire supply agreement for the inaugural GP3 series. Pirelli will consequently become the single supplier to all the most prestigious racing championships in the world from 2011.

Pirelli is planning to make important investments in corporate communications, in order to make the most of the high profile and cutting-edge technology that go hand in hand with supplying Formula One, using resources and budget that has already been set aside for this purpose.

This communications campaign will principally help to support Pirelli's increasing profile in emerging markets: Latin America, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, which are all areas frequently visted by Formula One racing.

Consequently Formula One will become a vital calling card for the Pirelli brand, helping its commercial and industrial expansion without disrupting the company's long-term financial strategy.

The global visibility guaranteed through extensive media interest in Formula One, together with dynamic plans to leverage Pirelli's involvement in an activity central to the company's core business, represents a unique opportunity for the brand to maximize its return on investment.

This new Formula One agreement crowns Pirelli's historic involvement in world
motorsport, which dates back to 1907 when the Italian firm won the epic Paris-Peking road race. Pirelli is currently the exclusive supplier to some of the most important World Championships for both cars and bikes, such as the GP3 series, the World Rally Championship, the Rolex Sports Car Series in North America, the World Superbike Championship, and the Motocross World Championship. On top of this, Pirelli also supplies more than 70 other national and international championships. The last Grand Prix victory claimed by Pirelli was the 1991 Canadian Grand Prix, with Nelson Piquet driving for Benetton.

Pirelli will be available to provide further details on the tire supply agreement tomorrow, 24 June 2010, at 2.30 p.m. CEST during a conference call, in which the Chairman of Pirelli & C., Marco Tronchetti Provera, and the CEO of Pirelli Tire, Francesco Gori, will intervene. Journalists will be able to participate by telephone, with the possibility to ask questions, by calling the number: +39 06 3348 5042 or +39 06 3348 6868 or +39 06 33168 and then dialing *0 . (Emergency line for problems to connect: +39 06 334844 or +39 06 33444 551). The presentation will also be available via webcast – in real time – on the website www.pirelli.com in the Media – Press Area section.

More information, as well as photographs and videos, are available at:
http://www.pirelli.com/web/media/press_area/default.page

Pirelli-equipped Maseratis and Porsches unlucky at Zolder's FIA-gt season finale

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 12:00:00 +0200

A spin from Bertolini after half an hour of racing puts an end to the hopes of the # 11 Playteam Maserati, running on Pirelli tires. Shortly beforehand, a misunderstanding between Pier Guidi in the other P Zero Racing-equipped Maserati and Davies in the Aston Martin-Pirelli resulted in contact that eliminated both of them. In GT2, the Porsche-Pirelli driven by Collard – which was also in the hunt for the category's drivers' title – was unable to make the most of its chances and finished fourth.

A combination of unfortunate circumstances put to an end to Pirelli Competizioni 's hopes of claiming the 2007 FIA GT drivers' titles. The Pirelli -equipped Maserati MC12 of Bertolini spun and ended up in the gravel trap while fighting at the front, following a magnificent drive earlier from the outgoing FIA GT Champion. The unlucky Maserati rejoined at the back of the field following the incident, which took place after half an hour of racing, and eventually ended up in eighth place.

In GT2 Pirelli rubber allowed the Scuderia Ecosse Ferrari 430 GTC of Kirkaldy-Sugden to hold a podium place for a significant portion of the race, before slowing towards the finish. In the meantime, especially the 78 Kg of ballast prevented the Pirelli -equipped BMS-Scuderia Italia Porsche 997 GT3-RSR of Collard-Malucelli from having a proper tilt at the drivers' championship.

Alessandro Pier Guidi, in the second PZero Racing -equipped Playteam Sarafree Maserati MC12, had a particularly unlucky encounter. Having gone quickest in the morning warm-up, the Italian's race was ended after just 18 laps following a misunderstanding with another competitor. He was unfortunate enough to hit the AMR-BMS Aston Martin DBR9 - Pirelli, which Jamie Davies was trying to nurse back to the pits with a terminal gearbox problem. Both cars were forced into instant retirement.

In GT2, the Scuderia Ecosse Ferrari 430 GTC- Pirelli, driven by Kirkaldy and Sugden, had an excellent race before having to slow down in the closing stages. Their fourth place was then taken by the Collard-Malucelli Porsche 997 GT3-RSR. The French-Italian crew was never really at ease on the Belgian track, characterised by winter weather that made life even more difficult than usual for the team's engineers and those of Pirelli.

Zolder marked the end of the 2007 FIA GT season, with next year's first race scheduled for springtime at the classic Silverstone circuit in England.

Pirelli ready to fight for two Fia-Gt drivers' titles in Belgium

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +0200

Following the positive results obtained from the final part of the season, Pirelli heads to the Belgian circuit of Zolder in the hope of securing two 2007 FIA GT drivers' titles - both in the GT1 class and also in the less powerful GT2 category.

The Playteam Sarafree Maserati MC12 equipped with PZero Racing tires and driven by Bertolini-Piccini comes to Belgium with a good chance of lifting the GT1 drivers' title. The two Italian drivers will benefit from tried and trusted Pirelli rubber for this showdown, which has been specifically developed for their car, and which has proved its worth over the last few hard-fought races.

It will also be worth keeping an eye on the Pirelli -equipped AMR-BMS Aston Martin DBR9 of Babini and Davies, which has scored some excellent results recently. The Italo-British pairing have every possibility of being amongst the frontrunners at Zolder: a circuit not far from Maastricht that was for many years home to Belgium's round of the F1 World Championship.

In GT2, Emmanuel Collard and Matteo Malucelli are in contention for the 2007 FIA GT drivers' title, driving a BMS-Scuderia Italia Porsche 997 GT3-RSR- Pirelli. In order to support their championship ambitions, there will be an extra Pirelli -equipped Porsche 997 GT3-RSR run by the Prospeed team and driven by Marc Lieb. Just like Collard, Lieb is a factory Porsche driver and on this occasion he will be partnered by Basseng.

Pirelli will as usual also be supplying the latest evolution covers to the Scuderia Ecosse Ferrari 430 GTCs, which are supported by the Italian tire manufacturer.

The quality and performance of the tires especially formulated for GT racing by Pirelli was recently confirmed in the FFSA French GT Championship: the only high-level domestic series in which GT1 cars regularly compete. The Team Oreca Saleen S7-R of Ayari and Narac - exclusively supplied with Pirelli PZero Racing rubber - won the title after a breath-takingly competitive season.

Brno positive for Pirelli: a podium, Bertolini and Piccini lead the championship

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 09:36:00 +0200

Brno positive for Pirelli: a podium, Bertolini and Piccini lead the championship Another combative race for the Italian number 11 Maserati crew puts them into the lead of the GT1 Championship. In GT2, an excellent race from the Edil Cris Ferrari 430 GTC gives Ruberti and Mediani third in the race, in front of the similar Scuderia Ecosse car of Mullen and Turner.

Pirelli has taken away a positive result from one of the most challenging rounds of the entire FIA GT Championship, with third and fourth places in GT2 as well as fourth and fifth places in GT1. More significantly though, Maserati drivers Bertolini and Piccini have taken the lead of the all-important drivers' championship with a total of 47 points. The crew of the number 11 Maserati, running on PZero Racing tires, put in a superlative performance with just two races left to run in this year's championship. The next race takes place in just a week's time at the French circuit of Nogaro.

On a circuit that has never particularly favoured the Italian rubber, Bertolini and Piccini's result was made all the more remarkable by the fact that their car was carrying 80 kilograms of ballast: a handicap accentuated by the twisty nature of the Czech track. Their team mates Giannocaro and Pier Giudi finished just behind them, underlining the strong performance of the PZero Racing tires used on the Playteam Sarafree Maserati MC12.

Andrea Bertolini, who put in his usual excellent performance even in difficult conditions like those at Brno praised: "the usual consistency of the Pirelli tires we had at our disposal for the race. The most crucial thing is though that our fourth place here has allowed us to take the lead of the championship. The next race is only in a week – and at Brno we will lose 20 kilograms of ballast. This is bound to make life a little easier for me and Piccini…"

In GT2 Paolo Ruberti drove brilliantly – together with Maurizio Mediani – in the Edil Cris Ferrari 430 GTC- Pirelli, which battled for second throughout the race. The duo only lost out to another Ferrari, driven by Ortelli and Bruni, in the closing stages. Ruberti and Mediani finished just ahead of another PZero Racing -equipped Ferrari 430 GTC: the Scuderia Ecosse car of Mullen and Turner, which had been second-fastest in qualifying.

Pirelli World leader in sustainbility in the "Auto Parts and Tires" sector of Dow Jones Index

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 09:00:00 +0200

Pirelli World leader in sustainbility in the "Auto Parts and Tires" sector of Dow Jones Index Pirelli & C. SpA is a world leader in sustainability in the "Auto Parts and Tires" sector of the Dow Jones index.The company, valued according to economic, social and environmental criteria, obtained a global score of 77%. While reaching leadership of the sector, Pirelli's presence has once again been confirmed in the global Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) and in the European Dow Jones STOXX Index (DJSI STOXX) for the 2007/2008 period, testament to the company's strong commitment to social responsibility.
Launched in 1999, the Dow Jones Sustainability indexes are the first global indexes to trace financial performance of leading companies in terms of sustainability. Admission to the indexes is subordinated to an extensive evaluation of the company according to working standards, corporate governance, supply chain, respect for the environment, risk management and dialogue with stakeholders.
The DJSI World Sustainability Index includes the best companies worldwide in terms of sustainable performance (about 10% of the 2,500 large companies that are listed on the DJ World financial index), valued according to economic, environmental and social criteria. The European DJSJ STOXX includes 20% of the leading companies, in terms of sustainability, among those included in the financial DJ STOXX SM 600 index.

Pirelli Tire North America specializes in the manufacture and marketing of highperformance car, light truck and motorcycle tires. An industry leader in technology and quality, Pirelli operates its highly advancedModular Integrated Robotized System (MIRS) in Rome, Georgia, to better serve the American OEM and Replacement markets.

Mercedes-Benz grants homologation of Rome produced Scorpion Zero Assimetrico

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 09:00:00 +0200

Mercedes-Benz grants homologation of Rome produced Scorpion Zero Assimetrico New size, 255/50 R19 103Wto fit ML and R class

Pirelli has been awarded industrial homologation from Mercedes-Benz to commence original equipment supply of 255/50 R19 103W Scorpion Zero Assimetrico. The Mercedes-specific size will be produced in Pirelli's Rome, Georgia facility andwill be fitted to ML 550/350 and R 350/320CDI. These vehicles are produced exclusively for the worldwide market in the Mercedes-Benz United States International (MBUSI) assembly plant in Vance, AL.

Tire North America specializes in the manufacture and marketing of highperformance car, light truck and motorcycle tires. An industry leader in technology and quality, Pirelli operates its highly advanced Modular Integrated Robotized System (MIRS) in Rome, Georgia, to better serve the American OEM and Replacement markets.