Pirelli back on home territory

The Rally d'Italia-Sardinia, 5th race of the 2005 WRC season, marks an important homecoming for Pirelli. The Italian rubber led from start to finish and won 13 out of 19 stages last year, thanks to the Subaru of Petter Solberg. This year, the route has been modified slightly to make it faster and even more spectacular. The surfaces consist of fine gravel, which is almost sandy in places in places, on top of a hard base. These stages contain a variety of speeds and corners, and many of the roads have been widened this year in order to give drivers a better opportunity to use all of the space available and properly attack the rally route. Weather conditions are expected to be generally warm, but as always in spring there is a risk of showers. Pirelli's three teams - Subaru, Peugeot and Mitsubishi - will be using the latest evolutions of two different types of tyre in Sardinia: the KP and the KM, both of which were instrumental in securing a victory by over two minutes last year. As always, the P Zero range will be equipped with Pirelli's EMI anti-deflation system. FOR STAGES WITH LOOSE GRAVEL KP (Size: 205/65-15) Steps: 2, 4 and 6 (with evolutions) Description: The KP4 will be the base tyre in Sardinia for normal conditions with loose gravel on top of a harder road surface. For warmer conditions the harder KP2 will also be available, whereas for cooler weather the drivers have the softest KP6 at their disposal. The KP works well in a wide range of temperatures, while the unique construction and pattern also enables it to cope with damp patches. Hand-cutting is available to disperse larger quantities of water. FOR STAGES WITH SOFT LOOSE GRAVEL KM (Size: 205/65-15) Steps: 4 and 6 Description: The KM is for stages with softer loose gravel. It is also highly effective on stages which are damp or wet. The rubber can be hand-cut in order to disperse mud or water and prevent aquaplaning. This tyre will be used for the softest and sandiest stages in Sardinia, as it is particularly good at penetrating an unstable surface. The KM6 will be used in the coolest conditions. NB. The higher the step number, the softer the tyre compound. JUNIOR WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP Italy is the third round of the Junior World Rally Championship, which is exclusively supplied by Pirelli. The competitors will have at their disposal a bespoke version of the KM4, with a size of 195/70-15. This tyre is capable of coping with all the conditions expected in Sardinia. Junior World Championship regulations forbid the tyres from being equipped with anti-deflation mousse. More information and photographs on Pirelli's motor sport activities: www.pirellicompetizioni.com