New Pirelli hillclimb tyre wins opening round of FIA European Championship on debut

Pirelli has won the first round of the FIA European Hillclimb Championship, having only launched a new range of hillclimb tyres for the first time at the end of last year. Now the Italian tyres have already triumphed, making a winning debut on the opening round of the most prestigious hillclimb championship in Europe thanks to Italian driver Simone Faggioli, who helped to develop the new tyres. The event took place in France: the Course de Cote de Saint Jean du Gard Col: a well-known venue on the hillclimb calendar, which tests all aspects of a tyre’s performance. The new Pirelli hillclimb tyre comes in two versions: slick (with soft and supersoft compounds available) and Cinturato rain, equipping all the classes in the sport. The tyres come in 250/575-13 and 315/660-13 sizes, using some of the techniques carried over from Formula One. Not only did Faggioli win the opening round but he also set the course record on the opening leg using the supersoft tyres: the softest compounds in the range with the most grip, distinguished by red markings just like their Formula One counterparts. Pirelli’s product manager Terenzio Testoni said: “It was a truly outstanding performance, not just from Simone but also from our new tyres, which have got off to the best possible start in an area of motorsport that is attracting increasing interest. Hillclimbing provides an extreme test of traction and turn-in, to which our new tyres reacted extremely well. We’re sure that they will become event more popular in future. Simone Faggioli, a multiple hillclimb champion, added: “Pirelli has done an exceptional job with these tyres, and from the very beginning I felt a lot of confidence. The consistency as well as the performance meant that we were able to not only win, but also set a new record.” Faggioli was driving a Norma M20 FC Zytek in the top class of the championship. The next round of the FIA European Hillclimb Championship takes place at the Grosser Bergpreis von Osterreich from 24-26 April.

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