The "Pirelli Champions Cup" returns for the 32nd Bologna Motor Show

Bologna (I), 6 December 2007 - After the massive public success of the Pirelli Champions Cup at the Bologna Motor Show last year, the competition returns once more (December 7th & 8th). The format stays the same, pitting car and bike racers from every era against each other, who have proved their worth both on circuits and in road races.

In total there will be eight drivers in this Pirelli-backed event. Amongst the circuit racers are Fabio Babini (the winner in 2006), Alex Caffi and Matteo Malucelli: all of whom have raced in GTs this season. The rallymen are Gianfranco Cunico, a veteran in Italy, Paolo Andreucci (2006 Italian Rally Champion) and Luca Betti, who competed on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge this year. The bike riders include Michel Fabrizio and Gianluca Nannelli, who have been respectively competing on the world Superbike and Supersport championships this year.

As for the cars, the Maserati GranSport racers that were a highlight one year ago make a return, while Mauro Rally Tuning will supply the Group N Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX cars that finalise the line-up for the Pirelli Champions Cup. The two cars are completely different, but they are both high-performance vehicles that demand the maximum from their drivers.

Mario Isola, Pirelli's Rally Manager, underlined: "The interest that the event generated a year ago, when we pitched top Pirelli drivers from the past and present against each other, gives us an excellent springboard again this year. This is another excellent way to celebrate Pirelli's 100 years in motorsport, and it will make a fitting prelude to the Bettega Memorial Rallysprint next week, where all the competitors will run exclusively on Pirelli PZero tyres."