Pirelli gets back to gravel in Mexico

Milan, 04/03/2005- Pirelli has an unsurpassed record on gravel events, winning more stages on the loose than anybody else last year, and leading the 2004 Rally Mexico before Petter Solberg's Subaru Impreza dropped time with a mechanical problem. The Mexican stages contain a wide variety of speeds and corners, while the weather is usually warm although cooler conditions are possible. The all-gravel Rally Mexico is the first 'normal' event of the year, after highly-specialised winter rallies in Monte Carlo and Sweden. The surfaces are mildly abrasive, with distances between tyre changes of between 60 and 75 kilometres. Pirelli's three teams - Subaru, Peugeot and Mitsubishi - will be using three types of tyre in Mexico: the KP, the K and the XR. As always, the P Zero tyres for Mexico will be equipped with Pirelli's EMI anti-deflation system. Dry stages with loose gravel KP (Size: 205/65-15) Steps: 2 and 4 (with evolutions) Description: The KP2 will be the base tyre in Mexico for dry conditions with a hard road surface. It can also be used for repeated stages which gradually clean, and works well in a wide temperature range. Dry stages with less loose gravel K (Size: 205/65-15) Steps: 2 and 4 Description: The K is for fast stages with little loose gravel. It can also be used for the second run through stages. The rubber is well-known for its durability, working well throughout a wide range of temperatures. For stages with abrasive surfaces XR (Size: 205/65-15) Steps: 3 only (with evolution) Description: The XR is the toughest tyre in the P Zero range, designed for hot, rough and abrasive surfaces. It is well-known for its strength, and can cope with extremes of flexing and temperature. It will be used on the cleanest stages, with little loose gravel. NB. The higher the step number, the softer the tyre compound. SUPER 1600 Mexico is the second round of the Junior World Rally Championship. Pirelli will supply just one KM2 control tyre, designed to cope with a wide range of conditions, with a size of 195/65-15. More information and photographs on Pirelli's motor sport activities: www.pirellicompetizioni.com