This season, DUNLOP is competing in the Italian Rally Championship (CIAR), relying on the experience of former Formula 1 driver Heikki Kovalainen. Together with his long-standing co-driver Patric Öhman, Kovalainen lines up for Gino Scuderia in a Citroën C3 Rally2. Backed by parent company Sumitomo Rubber Industries, the car is equipped with DUNLOP DIREZZA 201R and 301R racing tyres.
The Italian Rally Championship is the country’s top series and one of Europe’s most demanding asphalt championships. All seven rounds are contested on closed roads and are characterised by high speeds, technically challenging stages and extreme demands on the driver, car and tyres. As one of the toughest and most respected series, it often attracts World Rally Championship and European Rally Championship competitors.
DUNLOP’s involvement in the CIAR represents an important component of the brand’s global motorsport strategy. The series provides ideal conditions for further tyre development under tough, real-world competitive conditions, allowing valuable, transferable insights. In particular, the variety of asphalt surfaces experienced provides valuable data on performance, durability and the vehicle dynamics for future tyre development.
Bringing extensive experience from Formula 1 and international rallying, Heikki Kovalainen has been closely involved in the development of racing and high-performance tyres throughout his career. His technical expertise and feedback will be used to support the continued development of DUNLOP rally and performance tyres.
By entering the Italian Rally Championship, DUNLOP is not only strengthening its presence in European motorsport but also increasing the brand’s visibility within a competitive series. The programme underscores DUNLOP’s ambition to consistently combine technological progress and top-level sporting performance.
With two rallies complete, the CIAR season began in Tuscany in March, where Kovalainen and Öhman finished 12th. The championship travelled to Sicily on 14-16 May, where a mechanical issue put the team out of contention, but the duo will return to contest the championship on 4-6 June in Verona before heading to Rome, Alba and Cassino ahead of the season finale in Sanremo.
