From track to rallying: car motorsport beyond F1™

The 2013 season once again sees Pirelli as the busiest tyre supplier engaged in world’s motorsport activities. Indeed, besides F1™, the Milanese manufacturer is supplying tyres to 138 international road and track competitions. In 97 of these cases it has been chosen as sole supplier. The open-wheel track competitions include GP2 and GP3, the Formula One™ stepping-stone series for young hopefuls, that also see Pirelli making its debut as sole supplier. As regards GT Championships, this year Pirelli will be joining two new categories: the Blancpain Endurance Series and the FIA GT Series Championship. Turning to closed-wheel racing, it plays an important role in the one-make championships of top name manufacturers: Ferrari Challenge, Lamborghini Super Trofeo and Trofeo Maserati. Moving on to the numerous rally competitions to which Pirelli acts as sole supplier, mention should be made of the Citroen Rally Trophy in various European countries (Poland, France, Italy, Portugal), the Renault Championships (Switzerland, Spain, Italy, France), the Argentine Rally Championship, the MSA British Rally Championship and the Austrian Rally Championship. Open market events include the Italian Rally Championship and the Turkish Rally Championship where Pirelli triumphed in 2012. It also plays an important part in various historic rallies. As regards premium national championships, Stock Car Brasil, the country’s main motorsport series, deserves a special mention with Pirelli’s reappointment as sole supplier. Finally, of the European national competitions allowing competing tyre suppliers, the highlight is surely the VLN Endurance Racing Championship Nürburgring held at the German circuit.