26
April
2015
|
09:47
Europe/Amsterdam

Pirelli claims best result since returning to World Rally Championship

Pirelli has claimed its best overall result on a rally since returning to the World Rally Championship last year, thanks to fourth place for Martin Prokop – equalling his own best-ever career result – and a win in the WRC2 category for Qatari driver Abdulaziz Al Kawari: his best result of the season so far, and Pirelli’s first win in the category of 2015. Not only that, but Simone Tempestini claimed the Production category too, ensuring a win for Pirelli in all the main support categories and the top results possible for privateer drivers: the focus of Pirelli’s World Rally Championship campaign this year. One of the standout performances was that of Ukraine’s Yuriy Protasov, who showed amazing pace within the WRC2 category, equipped with Pirelli tyres. He ripped a wheel off on SS3 while leading, but still set fastest stage time. With astonishing presence of mind he then ran back into the stage to retrieve the wheel and upright as soon as he had finished.

Martin Prokop

Protasov then continued briefly down the road to find a safe place to reattach the wheel and rejoined the rally still holding third place in WRC2 – but the event stewards subsequently decided to penalise him 15 minutes for driving on three wheels. Protasov eventually finished fourth in class, winning the majority of stages while showing remarkable sportsmanship by refusing to give up. The Pirelli drivers all used the Pirelli Scorpion KS Reinforced soft compound as the main tyre in Argentina, with the Pirelli Scorpion KH Reinforced hard as the option (for hotter or longer stages). These tyres were both based on last year’s K product to make them even more stable and durable for the rally’s 12 gravel stages and 365 competitive kilometres. The KH was mostly used during the second run through some of the stages, as well as the opening day when temperatures reached 29 degrees centigrade ambient and 35 degrees on the ground. Pirelll senior engineer Matteo Braga commented: “With private teams, we have been knocking on the door of the overall podium thanks to a brilliant drive from Martin, and we have also claimed the class wins courtesy of Abdulaziz and Simone. The fact that we have been able to challenge the factory teams in such a way I think underlines the strength and performance of our product. This year was particularly tricky in Argentina, which the phenomenal rate of retirements showed. In fact, a proportion of the planned distance had to be shortened, due to extreme weather making the roads impassable. Our reinforced K tyre nonetheless coped brilliantly with the conditions once more to score the best result of our return so far. I’d like in particular to mention the amazing drive from Yuriy Protasov, who frequently set times with a WRC2 car that were in the top 10 overall. From start to finish, he showed incredible spirit. On behalf of us all I would also like to pay tribute to the amazing Argentine fans, who as usual provided brilliant support.” The next round of the World Rally Championship will be Rally Portugal from May 21-24.

***

For further information please contact: Anthony Peacock • +44 7765 896 930 • anthony@mediaticaworld.com