Monte Carlo Rally

Milan, 14 January 2005 - The world rally championship is back in action: and Pirelli is doubling its effort. In fact tripling it. After 11 seasons competing almost always exclusively with Subaru (and for the record winning 6 world constructors and drivers titles) the P Zero range will equip the cars of another two teams, which have written much of rallyings history: Peugeot and Mitsubishi. This is a challenge at top level. For the run-up to end-of-season success, but also internally. World champions in 2003 with driver Petter Solberg, who also won five of last years events, Subaru is nurturing great ambitions for this year, thanks to its well tried and often victorious Impreza WRC, which will also be campaigned in 2005 by ex-F.1 driver Stphan Sarrazin. Peugeot will respond with the now tried and tested 307 WRC, at the wheel of which will be double world champion Marcus Gronholm, whose new team mate will be Markko Martin. New objectives for the Mitsubishi team, too, as they are committed to a new long-term project and will be represented at Monte Carlo by Harri Rovanpera and Gilles Panizzi, but who will run Italian Gigi Galli for half the 2005 rallies. The P Zero range has won a great deal at Monte Carlo. On several occasions victories heavily influenced by tyre performance. A fact that will return to being decisive this year, when the P Zero range for asphalt and snow/ice must face up to the complex rallying conditions of the Monte with, perhaps, its most celebrated weapon: maximum versatility. An even more important weapon as a result of the new regulations and limitations relative to the choice of tyres. More than anything else, winning at Monte Carlo, explains Fiorenzo Brivio, head of Pirellis rally operations, means ensuring the maximum versatility of our P Zero range, evolved and specialised in the severe technical demands of this rally. The objective is to find the maximum grip possible on all the kinds of asphalt that we meet: from dry to damp and wet, to more or less snowy or icy. To be able to do that we need to be able to anticipate every possible variation in weather conditions, taking advantage of our technology in constant evolution and of the services of reconnaissance drivers and observers to forecast with maximum possible precision the conditions on the special stages. 3 Tread Patterns, many new regulations The Monegasque special stages, the most complex of the entire world championship, open the new season with a multitude of new tyre regulations. Apart from the many different combinations possible, from dry asphalt to surfaces covered by deep snow and often icy, the definition and choice of tyres are made even more difficult this year due to the necessity to nominate all the tyres to be used in the rally before the event starts. For each of its drivers, Pirelli has to nominate 80 tyres selected from type RX and RE tread patterns (description follows) and 50 type WX1s for snow covered stages. The tyre for a maximum amount of snow, the Pirelli S1, will no longer be available. This is the P Zero range for Monte Carlo Rally WRC cars, subdivided into sizes and characteristics, all equipped with the EMI anti-deflation system: From the dry to little snow RX (Size 225/650-18) Typology: Asphalt from dry to partially damp Types available: 5, 7 and 9 (all with evolutions) Description: Type 5 for dry surfaces with temperatures above 10. Type 7 basic choice for the rally: for asphalt ranging from dry to damp, with temperatures of between 0 and 10 Type 9 with thermal tread compound, ideal on dry surfaces with temperatures from 10 to +5, or the presence of ice or up to 10% of snow RE (Size 225/650-18) Typology: Intermediate: surfaces from damp to wet Types available: 7 and 9 Description: The softest compound in type 9 (thermal) can successfully take on extremely low temperatures and ice; the type 7 is used in temperatures above 10. Both can be hand cut for rain (type 7) or deep snow (type 9). From little to much snow WX1 (Size 225/55-18) Typology: For stages with mixed to deep snow Type available: One, with and without studs Description: For mixed to completely snow-covered special stages. Can be cut by hand for a greater presence of snow or ice. Studding available: 100% (inside and outside the tread pattern), 50% (only on the inside); or not studded. Note: The higher the number relative to the tread compound, the softer the tyre. The law of the stud Monte Carlo Rally regulations permit the use of studded tyres, confirming the already existent specific laws on studs and studding: Maximum length 15mm; Maximum diameter 6mm; Maximum weight 2 grams; Maximum protrusion 2 mm; Maximum density 12 studs every 10 cm of the treads linear development: therefore, each tyre can have a maximum of 240 studs) The central section of the tyre (width 47 mm) may not be studded. Tyres for the super 1600 What goes for the WRC cars, goes for the Super 1600s of the Mundialito: the 2005 Monte Carlo Rally regulations no longer permit the use of tyres for maximum snow during the event. On the French roads and in the expected multiplicity of conditions likely to be confronted, the Super 1600 cars will, therefore, have available to them 3 tyre choices from the P Zero range in the following sizes and characteristics: RS (Size 200/625-17) Typology: Asphalt from dry to partially damp Types available: 7 and 9 RE (Size 200/625-17) Typology : Intermediate tyre Types available: 7 WM (Size 165/80-15) Typology : Tyre for mixed surfaces Types available: One, with and without studs