Pirelli’s 2015 UK motorsport activities straddle four key disciplines: single-seaters, saloon cars, sports and GT cars and rallying.
While all Pirelli motorsport tyres are designed in Milan and manufactured in Izmit, Turkey, the company operates a logistics centre in Didcot, Oxfordshire, which also supports activities outside of the UK, such as the Dutch Supercar Challenge and various rally championships in Ireland. Pirelli personnel based at its Burton upon Trent and Carlisle facilities also provide their expertise to the various motorport programmes.
In single-seaters, Pirelli will supply tyres to the BRDC Formula 4 Championship, designed to propel young talents on the road to future stardom, from 2015. As part of this agreement, Pirelli will also supply tyres to the MSVR F3 Cup.
Pirelli will continue its exclusive tyre supply agreement with the GT Cup Championship, which enables the company to showcase the versatility of its products by providing tyres to a plethora of different sportscar manufacturers. Pirelli technicians are on hand to supply slick tyres in medium and hard compounds and wet tyres in the event of rain.
Sticking to sportscars, Pirelli is the official tyre supplier to the Porsche Club Championship, which for 2015 includes two grand prix circuits on its calendar to provide an exciting challenge for the Pirelli-shod runners. Pirelli also equips the Ferrari Classic series.
Also in circuit racing, Pirelli has extended its long-term partnership with the Power Maxed MINI Challenge, the popular national motor racing series in the United Kingdom. Pirelli provides its DH and WH P Zero racing tyres to the series, with the number of new and used tyres run per event limited to control costs. From 2015, the third-generation MINI will be eligible for the championship, which will also expand to include a second grid at each round.
In rallying, Pirelli is a successful partner of the Scottish Rally Championship and claimed the 2014 title with Euan Thorburn. It also participates successfully in the BRTDA Rally Series, won last season by Pirelli-supported Steve Perez in a Ford Focus WRC and in historic rally championships and events.