Valentino Rossi-Pirelli, Italian Pairing

The MotoGP champion took charge in his Ford Focus WRC with Pirelli P Zero racing tyres winning by a clear margin over 2005 winner Capello.
Mario Isola, Rally Manager for Pirelli Competizioni: "We congratulate Rossi on his excellent performance, which we are extremely proud to have been a part of."

Monza, 26 November 2006 ? Pirelli is proud to announce yet another triumph for Valentino Rossi, who has returned to his winning ways on four wheels on a Sunday that was almost entirely Italian at the Rally Show in Monza on Pirelli tyres, which once again made the difference and were a crucial part of the success of the MotoGP champion's Ford Focus WRC.

Valentino literally left all rivals in the distance in the final race of the Italian rally season, which brought both rally and track racers together in a single event. Against such names as Dindo Capello, Markku Alen, Piero Longhi, and Didier Auriol, Rossi took to the front right from the start and finished the race with a comfortable margin over his adversaries.

As he had already revealed eight days ago in New Zealand, where he raced in a Subaru Impreza WRC again on Pirelli rubber, Rossi said that he was "very satisfied with the performance of the P Zeros on Monza tarmac", noting that both yesterday on the rain-slickened track and in today's dry conditions, the P Zeros gave him the best mix of grip, traction, and resistance to wear.

Mario Isola, Rally Manager for Pirelli Competizioni, summarized the day saying, "Pirelli is used to winning, but not all victories are the same. Winning with Rossi is a particular pleasure; working with a champion makes things simpler and more exciting. We congratulate Rossi on his excellent performance, which we are extremely proud to have been a part of. And it is our hope that our collaboration can continue in new and successful adventures to come."

Once again backed by Carlo Cassina, one of Italy's best co-drivers, Valentino took best advantage of the characteristics of his Ford on Pirelli P Zero tyres. "Characteristics that proved decisive in the fight for ultimate victory in Monza," noted Mario Isola. "Valentino's performance was excellent, particularly considering that it was his first time in such a demanding car as the Focus, that the Monza Rally Show is by no means an easy race, and that this year's participants were both numerous and extremely competent, and included Dindo Capello, multiple victor at Le Mans, as well as world rally ace Didier Auriol. Therefore, this result confirms his immense talent, combined with the characteristics of the Pirelli P Zeros, which we provided for Valentino expressly for this race and which performed to their best even in the difficult conditions we saw this morning."

Rossi has raced on Pirelli P Zero tyres in all of his latest rally outings. In addition to this year's rallies in New Zealand and at the Monza Rally Show, in 2005 Rossi drove a Subaru Impreza WRC on Pirelli rubber both at the Monza Rally Show and at the Bettega Memorial.
 

Final standings at the 2006 Monza Rally Show, Monza (I):
 

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