PIRELLI AT THE SPA 24 HOURS WITH A TEAM OF 140 PERSONNEL SERVING 140 ENTRI
As is tradition, Pirelli is preparing to "take over" the Spa circuit for the 24 Hours weekend, with a logistical and organisational effort that has few equals in international motorsport: 46 vehicles, approximately 140 engineers and technicians, and more than 17,000 tyres destined to equip the cars competing in three separate championships.
Team members come from all key functions and, in addition to the Milan headquarters, also hail from Pirelli's other R&D and Motorsport centres scattered across four continents. The personnel will be equipped with monitoring and analysis systems that leverage the most advanced technologies and the expertise Pirelli has accumulated through its involvement in over 350 competitions worldwide.
Such a commitment is, of course, demanded by the sheer scale of the event, whose climax begins at 16:30 on Saturday 27th, when the 24 Hours gets under way. The 70 entries for the main race – valid for both the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup and the Intercontinental GT Challenge, representing ten prestigious manufacturers – are joined by 44 cars for the GT4 European Series and a further 20 for the McLaren Trophy. The top-class field boasts 250 drivers hailing from 43 countries across all continents. Record-breaking numbers that confirm the Spa 24 Hours' ever-increasing significance in customer motorsport.
Lamborghini, winner of last year's edition, will take to the track with the new Temerario GT3, competing in a 24-hour race for the very first time. Ferrari, Ford and Porsche respond with evolved machinery.
MATTEO BRAGA, PIRELLI CIRCUIT ACTIVITY MANAGER:
"Few events in the world combine the technical and competitive challenges of the Spa 24 Hours with such a highly professional and selective environment, bringing together the very best of global motorsport. From a tyre perspective, the 24 Hours traditionally represents a particularly severe test due to the characteristics of the circuit, starting with Eau Rouge, Raidillon and Blanchimont – corners that demand the utmost from the tyres, subjecting them to extreme thermal and mechanical stress. Managing the tyres carefully, with the correct parameters, can make a significant difference over the course of the race. This year an additional variable comes into play: particularly high daytime temperatures will make conditions even more demanding, while the thermal swing between day and night will require teams to carry out very precise work in adapting set-ups and pressures."
THE TYRES
The cars in all categories supported by Pirelli will be equipped with the P Zero DHG, available in various sizes to suit all GT classes. The key features of the P Zero tyres to be fitted on the GT3 cars relate to materials that ensure greater consistency in car balance over long distances.
The DHG tyres destined for GT4 machinery, in addition to sharing innovative materials with those used for the GT3 range, feature an optimised structure in both profile and construction, delivering a more uniform footprint across all track conditions and for all car types.
In wet conditions, crews in all GT classes can rely on the Cinturato WHB, which features a stiffer tread pattern and an optimised design thanks to innovative materials that have helped improve footprint, grip and warm-up performance at low temperatures.
THE REGULATIONS
Cars entered in the 24 Hours have a maximum of 30 sets of dry-weather tyres available for the entire race weekend, with one additional set allocated for participation in Super Pole. This set, however, may not be used during the race itself. There are no restrictions on wet-weather tyres.