PIRELLI AT SAFARI ON SOFT TYRES THE UNKNOWN WEATHER LOOMS OVER THE RACE

The soft-compound Scorpions, which were the only choice for the entire weekend last year, are the prime 
Rain, expected in the days leading up to the rally and also during it, could make the race even tougher by accentuating both the formation of deep tracks and the danger of stones  
Testoni: The soft tyres are designed for slippery and wet surfaces and have the right balance of performance and robustness

For the Safari Kenya Rally, the fourth of the season on gravel, Pirelli once again nominates as prime the soft-compound Scorpions, which even in the unexpectedly wet race in Sardinia (where they were an option) performed well. A decision dictated by the performance offered in the 2022 edition of the Safari, when - despite the very aggressive approach of the drivers who tackled it as a sprint race - the soft tyres were the only ones used throughout the weekend, withstanding the brutal blows suffered on the bumpy and rocky roads around Lake Naivasha. 

After all, the dangers of the African race are well known to all: slippery though rocky, bumpy tracks with deep ruts, which put the focus more on endurance than performance, and the 'fesh fesh', the fine sand in which cars can easily sink. These challenges could be accentuated in this year's edition by the rain expected in the days leading up to the rally and, according to some forecasts, even during the race itself. The rainfall could, in fact, make the roads even more slippery and muddy and expose more rocks, increasing the risk of bogging and bumps and decreasing grip.

PIRELLI TYRES
Even in the worst-case scenario, the soft-compound Scorpion KX SA tyres are the most suitable, being designed to provide grip even in the slipperiest conditions and on wet ground, in a balance of performance and endurance already proven in other races. The hard-compound Scorpion KX HAs are the option and are suitable for the most abrasive surfaces and the longest stages.

The regulations stipulate an allocation of 24 and eight tyres respectively for the prime and option, plus four for the shakedown, in the compound chosen by the crew.

As for the other categories, the Rally2 cars in Kenya will have Scorpion K6B (soft) and K4B (hard) tyres, while the Rally3 cars will have K6A (soft) and K4A (hard) tyres. For these cars, the allocations are 22 and 8 tyres for the prime and option respectively, to which a shakedown set must be added. 

PIRELLI QUOTE
Terenzio Testoni, Rally Activities Manager: “It is now clear that even in its modern version the Safari Rally remains an endurance and not a speed race, unlike any other contemporary WRC event. In Kenya the wear is low despite the distances, but the blows that the tyres, as well as the rims and suspension, suffer are numerous and violent. There is no shortage of fast sections, just as there is no shortage of hard braking and moments when you have to go at a walking pace. This year the rain could exacerbate these conditions and make the race much more unpredictable than usual. The Scorpion SA tyres have the right versatility to ensure both grip and impact resistance at the same time and have a structure that is neither too soft, which would not withstand the severity of the tests, nor too stiff, which would damage the suspension. Already in 2022 the race proved to be tougher than the previous year and it is very likely to get even worse this year”.