Pirelli Scorpion K on home ground in Sardinia, together with multiple European champion Kajetan Kajetanowicz
Pirelli will have a strong presence in its home round of the World Rally Championship in Sardinia, with the Italian firm equipping a number of privateer drivers with its renowned Scorpion K tyres on one of the most demanding gravel events of the season. One of Pirelli’s biggest stars will be Kajetan Kajetanowicz, making the move to the WRC2 series with M-Sport Poland and the Lotos Rally Team.
The challenge: Rally Italia Sardegna features fast and narrow stages, which are covered with fine and sandy gravel. This gets swept away during the first pass, exposing a rougher and rutted surface. There are also many sharp rocks to present an added hazard.
The Pirelli drivers: Likely to be among the leading contenders in the WRC2 class in Sardinia is Fabio Andolfi, who is backed by the Italian motorsport federation. He finished on the podium in his Pirelli-equipped Skoda Fabia R5 in Corsica earlier this year and won the WRC3 class in Sardinia two years ago. Kajetanowicz meanwhile begins his WRC2 programme with a Ford Fiesta R5 after winning three consecutive European Rally Championship titles with Pirelli. Also using Scorpion K tyres will be Finland’s Taisko Lario in WRC3, and a number of additional Italian entrants led by Sardinian driver Giuseppe Dettori.
The product: The Scorpion K Reinforced is designed to efficiently evacuate loose gravel and improve performance without compromising on durability: all important qualities in Sardinia. The hard compound K4 will be the main choice for dry conditions and solid surfaces, with the soft compound K6 also available for sandy surfaces.
The rules: The drivers are allowed to use up to 22 tyres during the event, with a separate allocation for the shakedown.
The event: This year’s Rally Italia Sardegna is made up of 20 stages totalling 313.46 competitive kilometres. The first stage, a short test in a former motocross track at Ittiri, takes place on Thursday evening, with the event finishing in Alghero at 13:25 on Sunday.
Pirelli quote: Terenzio Testoni, rally activity manager: “Sardinia, a place that we obviously know well, is one of the most challenging rallies of the year. This is due to the heat, dust, jumps and above all an abrasive surface that is constantly changing. The second passage through the stages is especially hard as it often exposes a rougher surface underneath the top layer of sandy gravel, as well as loose rocks that can cause punctures. Our latest reinforced Scorpion K has benefitted from our wide experience of these conditions to effectively resist all these hazards. We’re particularly proud that all the Italian drivers have chosen Pirelli for their home event this weekend.”
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For further information about Pirelli, please contact Anthony Peacock on +44 (0)7765 896 930 or anthony@mediaticaworld.com
For more information on Rally Italia Sardegna, please visit: www.rallyitaliasardegna.com