Pirelli to Equip Ferrari for the Tour of China

High performance tyres on the two cars taking on a 15,000 mile route The company is aiming at the top tyre segment of the Chinese market Shanghai, 22 August 2005 - Pirelli is to fit its Ultra-High Performance tyres to two Ferrari 612 Scaglietti which will begin the tour of China starting from Shanghai on 29 August. Pirelli has agreed to support Ferrari in this undertaking due to the ever-increasing importance of the Chinese market to the company. A joint venture agreement was recently signed for the production of tyres in the province of Shandong, one of the areas of the tour. This new partnership with Ferrari is further confirmation of Pirelli's positioning in the high range market segment, a strategy that the Group intends to pursue in China in the immediate future. The two Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, protagonists of this fascinating challenge, will be fitted with Pirelli P Zero Rosso and Winter Sottozero Ultra-High Performance tyres over the whole 15,000 mile route. The tyres will enable the two cars, which will be driven by Chinese and international journalists to best face the different sections of an itinerary which promises profoundly different scenarios and difficulties with extremes of weather conditions, types of road and environmental obstacles. In particular, the Ultra-High Performance P Zero Rosso and Winter Sottozero, in 18-inch diameter front and 19-inch rear, will provide excellent performance and perfect grip both in the dry and wet, due to the innovative materials from which they are made. The Winter Sottozero will also enable both cars to take on the possible winter weather conditions in some areas in maximum safety. This initiative is the latest in a long line of historic partnerships between Pirelli and Ferrari. Pirelli tyres are homologated for all Ferrari Grand Touring cars currently in production. In addition, Pirelli is the tyre supplier for the Ferrari Italian and international Grand Touring car championships and has been since its inception the exclusive tyre supplier to the Ferrari Challenge, an extraordinary test and development 'laboratory'.