Drivers'Champions of 2001 Monte Carlo 2002

Just a few weeks after securing the Drivers' World Championship of 2001 with Subaru Impreza WRC driver Richard Burns, Pirelli is ready for the fresh challenge of the new championship season. The Monte Carlo Rally (January 18-20) is the classic season opener where the Special Stages are probably the most complex of the entire championship. Thousands of different combinations are possible from dry asphalt to thick snow and this makes the challenge especially difficult from a tyre point of view.

Pirelli goes to Monte Carlo having won three times in the past 11 years; with Carlos Sainz in 1991 and 1995 (with Toyota and Subaru respectively) and with Piero Liatti in 1997. All of these victories can be credited to a specific performance of the tyres and provides valuable data to attack this year's rally.

In addition to the Ford Focus RS entries for Colin McRae, Carlos Sainz and Markko Martin, Pirelli remains with the Subaru team where Petter Solberg is joined by former four-time World Champion Tommi Makinen, the latest ambassador for Pirelli. 'Pirelli knows what is required to win the Monte Carlo Rally,' says Fiorenzo Brivio, the team's Rally Manager, 'and we also know very well the potential that Tommi brings after winning the past three Monte Carlo rallies. His arrival in the Pirelli team will help to prove the competitiveness of the PZero tyre range that has been specifically tested and selected for this most difficult event. We will also be using the skills of Italian Champion Paolo Andreucci to provide accurate and up to the minute information of the Stage conditions during the event.'

Pirelli will again be taking to Monte Carlo the latest versions of the PZero tyre range with many new evolutions of material and construction. As before, this season sees the rule demanding just two tread patterns per event (although compound options are free) but again the Monte Carlo Rally allows extra studded patterns because of the high likelihood of snow.


Pirelli Tyres: 2 for Asphalt and 2 for Snow
Pirelli comes to Monte Carlo with a range of 3000 tyres following a long period of study, production, testing and constant evolution. The rule demanding just two tread patterns on all rounds of the World Championship continues this season although there is no limit on the number of compound options that can be available. It is possible, however, to include an extra studded tyre for Monte Carlo to deal with the presence of snow/ice and for deep snow. All of the tyres are fitting with Pirelli's EMI anti-deflation system.

For Dry Surfaces and Light Snow

For Medium to Full Snow

For Maximum Snow

NOTE: The higher the compound number, the softer the tyre.

The Monte Carlo Stud Rules
The Monte Carlo Rally has quite specific rules regarding studding of tyres. Studs must be:
A maximum length of 15mm
A maximum diameter of 6mm
A maximum weight of 2g
A maximum protrusion of 2mm
There is a maximum of 12 studs for every 10cm of tyre (therefore each tyre can have a maximum of 240 studs).
The central band of each tyre (47mm wide) must remain stud free.


The Pirelli Team for Monte Carlo

Among cars from other teams not regularly contesting the World Rally Championship is the Ford Focus RS of Italian driver Emanuele Dati. This event is not a qualifying round for the new Production Car World Rally Championship (Group N).


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