Milan,
04
October
2018
|
12:00
Europe/Amsterdam

PIRELLI SCORPION K TO PROVIDE GRIP IN ALL CONDITIONS ON RALLY GB

After the rough rocks and high heat of Rally Turkey, Pirelli’s Scorpion K gravel tyres will now tackle a very different challenge on Rally GB, where the unpredictable weather conditions can have a significant impact.

The challenge: Based in Wales, Rally GB takes place over forest tracks that can be very fast when dry. However, rain is always a likely possibility and fog is also common. Such conditions make the stages muddy and very slippery, and the amount of grip available can vary considerably and tyres have to be versatile.

The Pirelli drivers: Pirelli equips a trio of promising drivers in the highly-competitive WRC2 category in Wales. Nils Solans, the reigning Junior WRC champion, makes his second appearance with Pirelli tyres after they helped him fight for victory in Germany. Eric Camilli, twice a WRC2 podium finisher on Rally GB, joins Solans in driving a Pirelli-supplied Ford Fiesta R5 run by M-Sport. Fabio Andolfi continues his campaign in a Skoda Fabia R5 supported by the Italian federation. Pirelli also supplies a number of local drivers, including Matt Edwards, who is bidding to clinch the British Rally Championship title in another M-Sport Fiesta, and Tom Williams, who contests his home event in WRC3 after completing this year’s Junior WRC season.

The product: The Scorpion K is available in two compounds on Rally GB: The soft compound K6 will be the main choice for cool and damp conditions, with the hard compound K4 also available for warmer conditions and more compacted surfaces.

The rules: The drivers are allowed to use up to 26 tyres during the event, with a separate allocation for the shakedown.

The event: Rally GB began on Thursday evening with the Tir Prince spectator stage, followed by eight more stages across north Wales on Friday. Saturday is the longest day of the rally, with nine stages totalling 150 kilometres all taking place in mid Wales with no mid-day service, just a lunchtime tyre fitting zone. The final day on Sunday includes two passes of the asphalt Great Orme Llandudno stage, which must be tackled with gravel tyres.

Pirelli quote: Terenzio Testoni, rally activity manager: “Rally GB is always one of the most challenging rounds of the championship due to the changing weather and variable grip. However, it’s a rally where we’ve had a lot of success in the past, and this weekend we look to replicate it with our customers in WRC2 and WRC3, consolidating our philosophy of helping young drivers to make their mark.”

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For further information about Pirelli, please contact Anthony Peacock on +44 (0)7765 896 930 or anthony.peacock.ex@pirelli.com

For more information on Rally GB, please visit: www.walesrallygb.com