Argentina: Pirelli among the leaders at mid-race with Solberg and Galli

Cordoba, 29 April 2006 - Having concluded more or less two thirds of the event, the situation is really positive for Pirelli Competizioni in the Rally of Argentina, with both Petter Solberg and his Subaru Impreza and Gigi Galli in the Peugeot 307 on the provisional podium. Right from the start, the latest evolution Pirelli P Zeros developed for this rally showed their quality, permitting the Norwegian and the Italian to climb to the top in this sixth round of the World Rally Championship. Solberg has even threatened Citroen driver Sbastien Loeb's lead before experiencing a number of problems that noticeably slowed him down. The 2003 world champion said, " All in all, I am happy the way things are going with the car and tyres, even if the weather conditions are very changeable on this second leg, with fog over almost one entire stage. So that did not permit us to cut the deficit between us and the leader. But the performance of the new P Zero KP that Pirelli brought to Cordoba has been a real help to us in reaching the position that my Subaru occupies at the moment". Commented Gigi Galli, " I am obviously happy to hold a place on the podium in only my second rally with the Pirelli-Peugeot 307 WRC prepared by Bozian. My feeling with the car is visibly improving and in relation to how I know the 307, this provisional result is decidedly an optimum one. This overall progression is also a good sign in a rally made all the more difficult by the weather, which changes with extreme rapidity. Third place would be an excellent result for me and my co-driver, Giovanni Bernacchini, but I will do everything I possibly can to try and keep up with the leaders without running any unnecessary risks". " We are pleased with what our drivers are achieving in this rally, which re-launches the Pirelli P Zeros to occupy the top place and let them fight it out for victory" , Mario Isola, Rally Manager of Pirelli Competizioni, remarked. " The competitive level of the Subarus and the Peugeot is really high on both the hard loose stages and timed sections with faster surfaces. And, more than anything else, the Pirelli tyres are also confirming their validity in Group N, where we compete without anti-puncture mousse. The drivers on P Zero are in the first four places overall" . Argentina Rally second leg classification after 14 SS, WRC 2006 Event nr. 06: 1. Loeb (Citron) +2h45'14''0 2. Solberg (Subaru) +57''5 3. Galli (Peugeot) +3'10''7 7. Atkinson (Subaru) +3'50''1 11.Villagra (Mitsubishi) +14'13''0 (1. Gr.N) For more information and pictures on Pirelli's motorsport activities visit: www.pirellicompetizioni.com