MILAN, Italy (Aug. 3, 2004) — The Peugeot World Rally Championship team—world champions nine times racing on Michelin tires—will switch to Pirelli tires for the 2005-07 seasons, according to the two companies.
Currently only the Japanese Subaru team runs on Pirelli tires, although Subaru drive Petter Solberg won the 2003 world championship on Pirelli tires.
Pirelli S.p.A. said the decision by French car maker Peugeot S.A. “is another important recognition of the top performance of the P Zero rally range of tires.”
Over the years, Pirelli has outfitted the winners of 19 world rally championships—both drivers' and manufacturers' championships.
The decision by Peugeot doubles Pirelli's presence in the World Rally Championship, which holds races at 16 venues in 16 countries on five continents. Pirelli has been exclusive with Subaru for the past three seasons.