Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News
  • Rubber News
  • European Rubber Journal
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • Current Issue
  • HUMANITARIAN
  • News
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
    • BEST PLACES TO WORK
    • OBITUARIES
    • OPINION
    • MID YEAR REPORT
    • SERVICE ZONE
  • ADAS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Custom
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
  • Resources
    • Events
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
    • SHOP FLOOR
    • AWARDS
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Best Places to Work
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
January 16, 2017 01:00 AM

Pirelli drops WRC

Tire Business Staff
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    COFFS HARBOUR, Australia—Pirelli Tyre S.p.A. will not compete in the World Rally Championship (WRC) in 2017, choosing instead to focus its motorsport resources on the approximately 300 other racing series it supplies worldwide.

    Pirelli Motorsport Director Paul Hembery disclosed Pirelli's decision during Rally Australia, the 2016 WRC season finale.

    Pirelli re-entered WRC competition in 2014 after a three-year-hiatus following the company's decision to end its WRC supply deal in 2010 after it was granted the exclusive tire supply contract for Formula 1.

    "Rallying is a form of motorsport that we are very passionate about and will continue to support enthusiastically," Mr. Hembery said. "However, we're not homologating a WRC tire for next season in order to concentrate on the 300 or so other championships that we supply worldwide."

    Pirelli will, however, continue to support rallying through a supply contract for the FIA European Junior Championship, Mr. Hembery said, "which fits in perfectly with our philosophy of promoting the careers of young drivers by giving them opportunities to compete on a wider platform."

    Pirelli is the spec tire supplier for the ERC Junior Championship, which is limited to drivers aged 17 and up who have not competed previously in a "P1" class rally. It also states on its motorsports website it supports more than 25 national championships in 21 countries.

    "Most young rally drivers begin their careers on their national championships," Mr. Hembery continued, "so we will also be ensuring that we continue to supply our latest products to these championships all over the world, reinforcing our global presence in the sport into the future."

    Pirelli has taken on a number of new racing championships, putting pressure on its ability to supply them all.

    Among the new supply contracts for 2017 will be:

    Trans Am Championship in North America;

    Electric GT Championship in Europe;

    China GT Championship;

    Blancpain GT Series Asia; and

    The one-off Macau Grand Prix, both for the FIA Formula 3 World Cup and the FIA GT World Cup races.

    Pirelli estimates it supplied more than 25,000 racing tires on a single weekend in late July 2016 to the series it supports globally. Pirelli recently disclosed it's planning to install capacity for competition tires at its plant in Slatina, Romania, giving it two manufacturing sources for race tires.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    TBC, Mavis complete deal for NTB, Tire Kingdom stores
    2
    Update: Goodyear agrees to meet investment group
    3
    Mavis acquiring TBC's NTB, Tire Kingdom business
    4
    EV owners say OE tires wearing out too soon
    5
    Goodyear to halve capacity at Fulda plant, cut jobs
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    Reader Services
    • Staff
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • HUMANITARIAN
    • News
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
      • BEST PLACES TO WORK
      • OBITUARIES
      • OPINION
      • MID YEAR REPORT
      • SERVICE ZONE
    • ADAS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Custom
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Resources
      • Events
        • ASK THE EXPERT
        • LIVESTREAMS
        • WEBINARS
        • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
        • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
      • DIRECTORY
      • CLASSIFIEDS
      • SHOP FLOOR
        • BALANCING
        • DEMOUNTING
        • SAFETY
        • TIRE REPAIR
        • TPMS
        • TRAINING
        • VEHICLE LIFTING
        • WHEEL TORQUE
      • AWARDS
        • Best Places to Work
    • ADVERTISE
    • DIGITAL EDITION