At the Suzuka 8 Hours, Pirelli wins the 2018/2019 FIM Endurance World Championship with the victorious Team SRC Kawasaki France
On the occasion of the last round of the Championship, the French team comprised of Jérémy Guarnoni, David Checa and Erwan Nigon, riding the Kawasaki ZX-10RR number 11, fitted with Pirelli DIABLO™ Superbike slick tyres in larger size and SCX compound, grad
On the occasion of the famous Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race, whose 42nd edition was held yesterday, Pirelli won the 2018/2019 FIM Endurance World Championship equipping, with DIABLO™ Superbike slick tyres in larger size and in the new SCX compound, Team SRC Kawasaki France.
Starting from the fourteenth position on the grid, the Kawasaki ZX-10RR number 11 ridden by Jérémy Guarnoni, David Checa and Erwan Nigon crossed the finish line of the last Championship race in twelfth position after making 209 laps and 8 pit stops in the 8 hours. That was enough to gain the world title thanks to the excellent performances obtained in the other events of the World Championship.
As usual in the FIM Superbike World Championship, Pirelli supported its teams participating in the FIM Endurance World Championship by offering them the latest technological solution developments. In this case, the DIABLO™ Superbike slick tyres in the larger sizes 200/65 rear and 125/70 front which, just this year, have joined the Pirelli range. In particular, in the five Championship races, the riders mostly used tyres from the larger range, SC1 at the front and SC0 at the rear, but at the Suzuka grand finale the new SCX compound solution also played a key role.Crucially for Pirelli these larger sized tyres in their debut year have earned two important accolades in the series, firstly winning the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans and then the FIM Endurance World Championship.
A season to be remembered for both Team SRC Kawasaki France together with Pirelli but certainly not without challenges and difficulties to overcome. In the first round, the Bol d'Or (which took place in September 2018), in qualifying the team obtained the pole position and the circuit lap record but in the race, after 22 hours in command and with four laps advantage, an electrical problem forced the riders in for several stops forcing them to finish the race only in seventh position. The result obtained in the 24 Hours of Le Mans last April was quite different and the win, with a decisive overtaking move less than fifteen minutes before the end of the race, was their sixth victory in the last ten years. At the 8 Hours Slovakia Ring in May bad luck returned to hit the French team which, after starting in fifth position, after an hour and a half race was forced to retire due to engine failure. Up to the penultimate race of the Championship, the 8 Hours of Oschersleben, where Team SRC Kawasaki France gained another splendid pole position and a second place in the race. Then finally a return to the head of the Championship and to lift the cup of the World Champions at the Suzuka 8 Hours race yesterday.
Over the five events the Pirelli-shod Kawasaki ZX-10RR number 11 logged some impressive numbers: over 10,000 kilometres ridden, 2078 laps raced, 73 pit stops, 2 pole positions, 1 victory, 1 second place and the icing on the cake , the world title!
Pirelli therefore celebrates the regained title of FIM Endurance World Champion and for the records, the Italian tyre company achieved another important success at the 8 Hours of Suzuka, namely the victory in the Superstock class with the BMW TONE RT SYNCEDGE 4413 team.
The next appointment is now for the opening round of the 2019/2020 FIM World Endurance Championship which will start on September 20, 2019 on the Paul Ricard Circuit of Le Castellet where the 83rd edition of Bol d’Or will take place.
Ph. Credits: Good Shoot