Pirelli equips drivers with new Scorpion KHB and KSB tyres for Mexico challenge
Rally Mexico provides a stark contrast for the World Rally Championship, with high temperatures and high altitude offering an altogether different challenge to the cool and icy conditions of Sweden. On the first true gravel event of the season, the heat and height of the Mexican stages will test the crews and their cars to the limit. Tyres face a stern test too, particularly from rocks and stones across the road surface, but Pirelli comes prepared with a new evolution of its Scorpion K gravel tyres. Among the cars that will be equipped with Pirelli tyres in Mexico are four from the top WRC1 class, including those driven by the returning Martin Prokop and top local driver Benito Guerra.
 |
| Martin Prokop |
The first appearance of gravel tyres in the WRC this season will also be the debut for Pirelli’s Scorpion KHB Reinforced hard compound and KSB Reinforced soft compound. Adding to the size of the task in Mexico will be the introduction of the 80-kilometre Guanajuato stage, the longest seen in the WRC for 30 years. It will be the penultimate test on a rally consisting of 21 stages and 399.71 competitive kilometres, which makes up 37% of the total route on a compact event. Leading Pirelli drivers on Rally Mexico Martin Prokop will make his first WRC start of 2016 in one of three Ford Fiesta RS WRC cars on Pirelli tyres, together with Lorenzo Bertelli and Benito Guerra, a strong contender on his home event. Another top Mexican is Ricardo Triviño in the WRC2 class, where he’s joined on Pirelli tyres by Max Rendina and Armin Kremer. The WRC3 class leader Michel Fabre is also competing with Pirelli, fresh from victory in Sweden. The tyres Pirelli will supply each World Rally Car crew with 24 hard compound 205/65-15 Scorpion KHB Reinforced tyres for use in the dry and 16 soft compound 205/65-15 Scorpion KSB Reinforced tyres in case of damp or wet conditions. The rules In Mexico, World Rally Car crews are allowed to use up to 28 tyres from their allocation during the whole rally. Competitors in WRC2 and WRC3 are able to use 26. Quotes Terenzio Testoni, Pirelli rally activity manager: “The conditions in Mexico are always a challenge for the drivers and they will also provide a rigorous test for the developments we have made with the Scorpion KHB and KSB tyres, which are new evolutions for this year. The huge 80-kilometre stage that’s been added to the route for 2016 will demand the most from every part of the car, including the driver and the tyres. We can be confident that our latest products will be up to the task and help our drivers to perform well, including those that are carrying the hopes of the enthusiastic Mexican fans.”
***
For further information please contact: Anthony Peacock • +44 7765 896 930 • anthony@mediaticaworld.com