Kajetanowicz heads Pirelli 1-2-3 on ERC season-opener

Pirelli has begun the international motorsport season in style with a 1-2-3 finish on the Jannerrallye, the opening round of the European Rally Championship (January 5-6) following a dominant performance by the Italian tyre manufacturer.

Kajetan Kajetanowicz won the ERC Jannerrallye using Pirelli tyres

Kajetan Kajetanowicz won the winter event in a Ford Fiesta R5 with Robert Consani (Peugeot 207 Super 2000) second and Alexey Lukyanuk (Fiesta R5) third. And there was more Pirelli success with Raimund Baumschlager winning the supporting national rally in a Pirelli-shod Skoda Fabia and Slawomir Ogryzek capturing the ERC3 spoils at the wheel of a Peugeot 208 R2.

With the exception of Baumschlager, who ran on Pirelli’s 16-inch 135/90-16 S16 tyre in accordance with the Austrian championship regulations, all drivers were using the Pirelli 135/85-15 SA15 tyre fitted with studs protruding to 2mm and designed for 15-inch wheel rims. They proved optimal on the ice and snow-hit Tarmac stages of Upper Austria and decisive in terms of the result.

The 135/85-15 SA15 tyre is used predominantly on two-wheel-drive cars but its narrow and softer construction and high level of stud retention meant it delivered a high level of grip on the snow-coated roads, which proved slippery in the extreme, particularly during a period of heavy snowfall on the opening leg.

Second place for Pirelli shod Robert Consani was an ERC career best

“Congratulations first of all to all the Pirelli drivers that did a fantastic rally,” said Matteo Braga, a senior Pirelli tyre engineer. “Kajetan did the perfect race, always delivering a high level of performance. Consani managed his tyres very well, using just eight over the entire 238 kilometres of stages, while Lukyanuk was always pushing to be on the podium after a mechanical problem on the first stage. He achieved his mission by winning the final stage. We must also remember the achievements of Baumschlager and Ogryzek, who also drove very well in the difficult conditions.”

Pirelli’s next major motorsport challenge is round one of the World Rally Championship, Rallye Monte-Carlo from January 19-25, ranked as one of the toughest events on the calendar due to the unpredictable weather and strong likelihood of changeable road conditions. Meanwhile, the ERC resumes on Rally Liepaja in Latvia from February 6-8.

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For more information about Pirelli, please contact Anthony Peacock on +44 7765 896 930 or anthony@mediaticaworld.com