Positive results for Pirelli P Zeros in European and American Endurance races

Milan, 18 April 2005 - Pirelli PZero track racing tyres scored excellent results at two historic international motor racing circuits last weekend. The PZeros achieved their first victory of the season in the GT1 category at the demanding " 1000 Km of Spa-Francorchamps" , the first round in the Le Mans Endurance Series, permitting the Ferrari 550 Maranello of Scuderia Italia to take first and third places in their class with drivers Gollin-Ramos-Cressoni and Pescatori-Seiler-Bartyan. Made especially difficult due to prohibitive weather conditions, the Belgian race saw Pirelli take the lead as early as testing with the Saleen S7-R of Lemeret-Ruberti-Bobbi. Their car qualified third in GT1 and was in command of the race for some time before retiring with electrical problems. But the Ferraris had no technical trouble: the cars' new PZero intermediates gave them the edge over the competition. Pierluigi De Cancellis, Circuit Manager of Pirelli Competizioni, said, " The great effectiveness of the Pirelli intermediate tyres proved itself to be essential to good roadholding on the Belgian circuit, the asphalt of which offered many different conditions of adhesion. In fact, in some areas the cars were able to take the ideal line in the dry, while the rest of the circuit was almost awash and on other parts of the track rain made the road surface slippery. The Pirelli PZeros were very effective in all situations, always providing the ideal grip even on cars that are so different from each other, like the Ferrari 550, the Saleen and the Porsche 996 GT3-RSR, which was driven into a well-earned third place in the GT2 class by Groppi-Moccia-Camathias. That was confirmed once more by the fastest lap, set by the Ferrari 360 GTC of Ecurie Ecosse and its drivers Kinch-Kirkaldy, who dominated the GT2 scene before having to retire". The excellent result achieved by Pirelli on the historic Belgian circuit was not the PZero tyres' only moment of glory in GT racing last weekend. The works Maserati MC12 driven by Bertolini-De Simone took a well-deserved third place in the GT1 class and seventh overall in the American Le Mans Series race at Road Atlanta. The event was run on the U.S. circuit in good weather but, as with Spa, on a track that was demanding for the drivers, cars and tyres. Andrea Bertolini praised the Italian tyres, saying, " This result has been possible due to an exceptional work carried out by Pirelli, which has always given the maximum, and permitted a Maserati to return to the podium at an American race after almost 50 years". The Le Mans Endurance Series will now take a break for two months before its next event, the " Le Mans 24 Hours" (18-19 June), while the American Le Mans Series will be back in action on 22 May in Mid-Ohio. More information and photographs on Pirelli's motor sport activities: www.pirellicompetizioni.com