PARIS — Pirelli & C. S.p.A. will not submit a bid to extend its supply contract for the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), the Italian tire maker announced, adding that it had "achieved the targets set three years ago at the start of the current contact."
The Federation International de l'Automobile is accepting bids for the 2025-2027 season until Sept. 25. The winning bidder will be announced Oct. 25. The contract will cover all 4-wheel-drive categories within the WRC.
Pirelli has held the contract since Sept. 2021.
"Pirelli — present in more than 350 motorsport championships around the world — remains committed to rallying, and will continue its participation in all the other rally competitions in which it is currently involved," the company said.
Supplier bidding on the contract must demonstrate that their proposed tires are safe, reliable and can offer equal sporting capabilities for all competitors in each relevant technical category in a variety of conditions — on gravel or tarmac surfaces and in snowy/icy conditions.
Pirelli has been involved in rallying since 1973, claiming 25 world titles and equipping the winners of 181 events. Pirelli was sole supplier to the WRC from 2008 to 2010 and was a supplier in the 2013 through 2016 seasons.
Prior to Pirelli supplying the 2021-2024 season, rallying had been open tire competition series for the previous nine seasons.
Pirelli noted that it is involved in the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC), won this year by Hayden Paddon in a Pirelli-equipped Hyundai, as well as more than 40 national rally championships worldwide and a wide variety of other events for modern and historic rally cars.
