“We are proud to be associated with Western Power Sports and they are a great addition to our distribution network in the United States, “said Scott Griffin, Vice-President of Pirelli North America. “We feel with two distributors covering the U.S. market, we can better serve both dealers and consumers.” 

Western Power Sports has Pirelli motorcycle tires in stock and will begin selling to their dealer network as of this release.  

Pirelli Tire North America designs, develops, manufactures and markets tires for passenger vehicles, motorcycles and race cars for original equipment and replacement markets.  Located in Rome, Georgia, Pirelli’s Modular Integrated Robotized System (MIRS) employs state-of-the-art technology to manufacture tires for both export and domestic markets.  For more information please visit www.us.pirellimoto.com.

Green Performance

Pirelli’s Green Performance strategy translates into new products and new production systems with reduced environmental impact and low energy consumption – all while focusing on quality and added safety.  Investments in technology and innovation run parallel to ambitious objectives such as pushing the green proportion of our tires from the current 20% to 40% by 2011, as well as offering mobility that joins added safety and performance to environmental sustainability. 

Pirelli – Worldwide Leader in Sustainability

Pirelli’s approach to green performance and its position as a world leader in sustainability is recognized globally.  In the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices, Pirelli leads the Auto Parts and Tire Sector for the third year in a row in sustainability, and was confirmed in the twice-yearly review of Financial Times’ sustainability indices for seven consecutive years.  In 2009, the Pirelli Group improved by 11% to a global rating of 88%, in a segment that averages 48%. These ratings come in part because of the efficiencies in production processes and in lowering energy consumption.  Pirelli’s Eco-Sustainability strategy resulted in its lowering of water consumption levels 12.7%, energy consumption 9.2%, and both its CO2 and NOx emissions by 8.9 and 14.9% respectively over the last four years.

Products

Pirelli will introduce two new product entries into the global marketplace and announce several line extensions: 

Scorpion Verde All Season

The newest addition to the Pirelli Scorpion Family is all about Green Performance.  The Scorpion Verde All Season has been designed specifically for SUV’s, Crossovers and Light Trucks.  It offers drivers increased performance in wet braking, dry handling, wet handling, snow traction and reduces aquaplaning. In addition, through decreased rolling resistance and an 8% reduction in weight, it lowers CO2 emissions. 

The Scorpion Verde All Season’s use of cutting edge compounds helps deliver longer tread life for consumers. This means improved wear uniformity, which equals higher mileage and a stable footprint for the consumer.  

P Zero Trofeo

Trofeo is a DOT street legal race tire that gives enthusiasts a wider contact patch; greater rigidity and stability during acceleration and braking, as well as the peace of mind of having a constant and consistent footprint area at high speeds.  Trofeo is manufactured using state-of-the-art innovations in technology and materials that give racers the ability win on-track and drive on-road.  

P Zero Nero (Line Extension)

The deepest and most extreme UHP tire line in Pirelli’s arsenal – the P Zero Nero – will grow with a new fitment for high-performance luxury vehicles. It is a winning combination of enhanced driving enjoyment, precise cornering, excellent grip – even at the limit, and high resistance to aquaplaning.  The P Zero Nero has been specifically designed for “soft” and “hard” tuning, and is ideal for tire and wheel conversions.  315/25R23 102Y XL 

P Zero – Run Flat (Line Extension)

The P Zero legend sets new ultra high performance standards and has achieved a level of excellence to complement the world’s most exclusive sports cars.  A combination of technological features eliminates the previously unavoidable compromises associated with extreme driving: performance and comfort, acceleration and braking, in both wet and dry – and is available in these new run flat sizes:  285/35ZR19 (99 Y); 245/40ZR18 93Y 

Scorpion Ice and Snow (Line Extension)

Specifically designed to enhance the low temperature performance of fast, luxury SUV’s, Scorpion Ice & Snow is the ideal solution to ensure maximum mobility.  Like all Scorpion products, safety and comfort are prioritized in the tire design and full control is assured even under the most demanding conditions.  245/55R18 103H; 245/50R19 105V XL

Vehicles

In support of the product on display, Pirelli will also have a stunning array of vehicles on hand that only it can align to demonstrate and showcase Pirelli’s story of how it became “Original Equipment on the World’s Finest” and what “Power is Nothing without Control” truly means:

Pagani Zonda R

Pirelli’s commitment to ultra high performance tires coupled with its depth of product for original equipment and replacement applications mean the slogan “Original Equipment on the World’s Finest” isn’t just lip service.  Automotive manufacturers Mercedes Benz, BMW, Ferrari, Audi, General Motors, Ford and many, many others understand that when you build the best cars, you must install the best tires.  As a testament to the quality and ability of the Pirelli P Zero – the legendary ultra-high-performance product – Pirelli will display the Pagani Zonda R.   Pagani Automobili designed the Zonda R to deliver a power-to-weight ratio of 701 horsepower per ton, which will catapult the few who experience its prodigious power from 0-60 in a scant 2.7 seconds.  Connecting all that power to the ground is the Pirelli P Zero – truly Original Equipment on the World’s Finest.

Volkswagen Touareg

The Volkswagen Touareg may be an SUV, but it runs on ultra-low sulfur diesel.  That means it has 97% less sulfur content, radically reducing emissions.  With 225 horsepower and 406 pound feet of torque, the Touareg’s Scorpion Verde All Season tires put all that power to the ground with an eye towards Green Performance. 

Foose Terracuda

Chip Foose and his company Foose Design are synonymous with the best of American automotive culture, hot-rodding and muscle machines.  This year, Foose brings his Terracuda to the Pirelli booth.  Its custom frame designed by Chip and built by Art Carr, Chip has redesigned the Mopar in almost every conceivable way – and left no body panel untouched.   Terracuda’s 392ci Mopar crate engine is mated to a Tremec 5-speed transmission and a Ford 9-inch rear end. The custom leather interior features touches of Ferrari and carbon fiber.  Foose-designed wheels adorn the car and are wrapped in proper Pirelli rubber.

Transformers “Bumble Bee” Camaro

Fans of the new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro and the blockbuster cinematic action hit TRANSFORMERS movies can now combine their love of the car and the films with the Bumble Bee Edition Camaro RS,  direct from theTRANSFORMERS movie set in Hollywood, California. 

2010 Spade Kreations Ford Mustang GT

An evolution of retro – the Spade Creations Mustang GT favors the hardware of hardcore drift cars, the aggressive style of Ford’s iconic pony car, and the environmental responsibility of a flex-fuel power plant.  The Mustang rides on an aggressive 24” wheel fitment with low-profile and super-wide Pirelli tires.  A race-tuned coilover suspension helps put the flex-fueled E-85, force inducted, water/methanol injected fire-breathing engine power to the ground. 

Troy Bayliss Edition Ducati 1098 R

Troy Bayliss is a Ducati legend. In celebration of his victory in the 2008 World Superbike Championship aboard the 1098 R, and the end of a career that proudly claims three World Championships aboard three generations of Ducati Superbike, the factory have built a 1098 R Bayliss Limited Edition.

Enjoying exactly the same high specification as the standard ‘R’ model, the 1098 R Bayliss Limited Edition has a special color scheme designed by Aldo Drudi and approved by Troy Bayliss himself and will be on display in the Pirelli booth all week at SEMA.   

No where will you find such a collection of style, muscle, power and design other than Pirelli’s booth, #41027, SEMA 2009, November 2-6, 2009 in Las Vegas, NV.  Pirelli’s commitment to original equipment applications means that the best vehicles in the world wear Pirelli’s, and its commitment to the replacement market means that those cars consumers want to wear Pirellis can. 

Pirelli Tire North America designs, develops, manufactures and markets tires for passenger vehicles in both the original equipment and replacement markets as well as markets and distributes tires for motorcycles and motorsports. Located in Rome, Georgia, Pirelli’s Modular Integrated Robotized System (MIRS) employs state-of-the-art technology to manufacture tires for both export and domestic markets.  For more information please visit www.us.pirelli.com.

###

Media Contacts:

Rafael Navarro, Director Communications & Motorsports

951-533-0305  rafael.navarro@pirelli.com

Joe Severns, Public Relations Manager

706-506-2195    joe.severns@pirelli.com

While January’s Rolex 24 and the Brumos Porsche 250 are run on the same track, the similarities end there.  This Saturday’s race will be run in the heat of a typical Florida summer afternoon, a challenging environment that takes its toll on the drivers, race cars and the track itself.  The dire conditions also bring out the best in the Pirelli P Zeros.

“It is going to be nasty, hot, slippery and tough,” said Jon Fogarty, who co-drove to victory in the 2007 Brumos Porsche 250 with GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing and teammate Alex Gurney in the team’s No. 99 Pontiac Riley Daytona Prototype.  “The heat will sap energy out of the drivers and the motors, and the tires are going to have there work cut out for them.  I am sure the Pirellis are up to the task, but I am certain that it will be a more difficult track to drive than what we have in January.”

Burt Frisselle co-drives the No. 61 AIM Autosport Ford Riley Daytona Prototype with Mark Wilkins.  He also expects the Pirelli P Zeros to be ready for the grueling Florida conditions this Fourth of July.

“Daytona is a tough track for tires because it requires great traction for the tight hairpins and at the same time requires longevity and stability when running the high banking at over 190 mph,” Frisselle said.  “For 2009, the P Zero is even better for the drivers as it allows us to get the occasional lock up going into Turn 1 and the Bus Stop chicane without the penalty of a big flat spot.  Pirelli’s hard work has shown in the lap times.”

The warm weather conditions could also be a challenge for the teams and drivers in the Grand-Am Rolex Series GT category.  Andy Lally was part of January’s class winning Rolex 24 team in the No. 67 TRG Porsche GT3 and looks for an equally challenging race this weekend.

“The main thing that we will deal with at Daytona this weekend as opposed to the 24 hour race in January is the heat,” Lally said. “We will be focusing mainly on tire life, especially this year because for the first time Grand-Am will run this race in the day time. The infield section will be very tough to put the power down and we will be pushing the Pirellis for all there worth.  We had no real tire issues in the Rolex 24 win and I don’t anticipate any this weekend either.  This allows us to focus on driving.”"

Pirelli Tire North America designs, develops, manufactures and markets tires for passenger vehicles in both the original equipment and replacement markets as well as markets and distributes tires for motorcycles and motorsports. Located in Rome, Georgia, Pirelli’s Modular Integrated Robotized System (MIRS) employs state-of-the-art technology to manufacture tires for both export and domestic markets.  For more information please visit www.us.pirelli.com.

Despite having very little information about the eighth round of the World Rally Championship – which was run on gravel stages close to the holiday resort of Mikolajki – there were no problems with punctures or tire wear for any of the leading competitors throughout the three-day event.

Conditions were cooler than expected in Poland, with occasional rain during the event. Nonetheless, despite the humidity the stages remained in good condition even when used a second time. Along with the traction and grip provided by the Pirelli Scorpion rubber, this allowed drivers to reach average speeds of close to 81 mph on some of the stages. Ford’s excellent result with its Pirelli tires has set up a thrilling championship duel with just four rounds of the World Rally Championship left to run.

The new World Rally Championship leader and Rally Poland winner Mikko Hirvonen commented: “Actually, I was surprised by just how much traction and grip there was on the stages. I was definitely expecting worse. Even when I was running first on the road, it wasn’t really a problem for us. We had quite a wide variety of conditions here, but the car and the tires coped very well with all of them. I’ve really enjoyed this rally, and of course it makes the championship quite interesting now.”

Poland was also host to the sixth round of the Junior World Rally Championship. A thrilling battle meant that the two candidates for victory – in an R3 car and a Super 1600 car – started the final day separated by less than a second. In the end, it was Kevin Abbring who triumphed at the wheel of a Pirelli-equipped Renault Clio R3.

Pirelli’s rally manager Mario Isola concluded: “From our point of view it was a perfect rally. All we had to do was supply the teams with the tires, and there were no other problems for us to deal with. The wear rate has been excellent, while providing everyone with plenty of grip, and there have been no punctures despite some tricky conditions. Our soft compound gravel tire – which will be used again in Finland and Britain – is seeing much more use compared to last year, but it has shown itself capable of adapting to a very wide range of different conditions. There was a particularly good fight in the Junior World Rally Championship as well. Unlike the main series, competitors are allowed to cut their tires in the Junior Championship – adding an extra tactical element.”

The next round the World Rally Championship – the legendary Rally Finland – takes place from July 31 to August 2 on fast gravel stages close to Jyvaskyla.

Pirelli Tire SpA – Press Office – Motorsport Communication
Viale Sarca, 222 – 20126 Milano – Italy – phone/fax +39 02 644245407 – www.pirelli.com

Pirelli’s new Scorpion Rally off-road tire proved to be the ideal weapon for the diversity of conditions for this epic challenge

Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Milan (Italy) 17 January, 2009 Pirelli’s debut in the Dakar as a supplier to the official KTM factory teams was nothing short of dominating, with the new SCORPION RALLY tire capturing the 1st and 2nd positions on the podium with riders Marc Coma and Cyril Despres. This off-road rally tire was developed together with KTM in preparation for this year’s Dakar. Out of a field of 235 riders, seven riders chose to have support from Pirelli and out of these seven, three riders finished in the top 7 positions overall. KTM Repsol rider Marc Coma (SPA) and Red Bull KTM rider Cyril Despres (FRA) were fiercely competitive in this 31st edition of the Dakar, considered to be the most difficult rally race in the world, which this year moved 10,000 km away to South America.

Two years of development on the new SCORPION RALLY tire, made specifically for rally application and born from the winning heritage of the Scorpion product family, has resulted in a product worthy of such a challenging race. This new tire underwent testing and collaboration with the best rally riders and racing teams, and Dakar 2009 was chosen for its launch due to the event’s popular following and demanding terrain. The innovative and complementary structure helped guarantee outstanding performance and high resistance to fatigue and puncture. Furthermore, the compound and knobs layout is designed to provide great traction and grip for the difficult terrains that are encountered in even most demanding rallies such as Dakar.

Pirelli Tire would like to thank Marc Coma, Cyril Despres the entire KTM team and its riders for managing the uncertainty of change, their excellent preparations prior to the race, and for believing that Pirelli could produce a winning rally tire. From the positive feedback received during the testing sessions, to the open communication throughout the Dakar, it was clear that KTM and Pirelli were a committed team. Pirelli and KTM look forward to all the excellent racing results the partnership will bring as well as the strong and positive benefits which two sport-focused companies will inevitably find.

Overall in the Dakar, Pirelli riders and the new SCORPION RALLY won 7 of 14 stages, and gained a total of 1:52 hrs over the competition. These riders tackled 5,652 km of specials from Buenos Aires to Valparaíso and back again, during which they encountered a race environment unique to this new location, with notable places like Terra Del Fuego, the Andes Mountains and the Atacama Desert, said to be the world’s driest desert. Dakar 2009’s extreme diversity and newly charted territory was especially challenging for the teams, the riders and technicians to make the ideal setup (regarding tyres, compounds, mousse, tubes, etc.,) as the environment was completely foreign from previous African Dakar races.

Notwithstanding the excellent performance of the top two riders, Marc Coma’s teammate Jordi Viladoms (SPA), who is always a perfect example of fine team spirit and consistency, finished 7th out of 235 riders and even took home his own win in Stage 10. Pirelli rider Rodrigues Filho (BRA) of Team Honda Brazil rode near the front for the whole race behind the pack of large displacement bikes, putting his 450cc bike in the 12th spot for the Dakar overall, and 3rd amongst bikes in the 450cc class.

Overall Standings:

During the course of a season, the Milan manufacturer develops around 40 models purely for the Championships. For each round Pirelli provides 8 trucks, around 6500 tyres produced on an industrial scale in order to provide the required quantities and maximise uniformity.
The reason for being awarded the supply contract has been Pirelli’s dedicated commitment in the last three years to relaunching the Championship, working alongside the organisers, teams and riders.

“For us – affirms Guglielmo Fiocchi, Director of the motorcycle division of Pirelli tyres – SBK represents a laboratory for developing and testing the specifications of the Diablo family of tyres before they are put on the market. The championship offers the best testing ground in the world and if our products are okay for these riders we are sure that they’ll be fine for regular consumers. The key to our success is in the continual alignment that Pirelli has developed between the sport sector and the market, creating competition tyres for consumers and vice versa under what has become our strapline: We sell what we race with, will race with what we sell”. 

Round 10 of the World Supercross GP/AMA Supercross took place at Daytona Motor Speedway, located in Daytona Beach, FL.

In the Supercross Lites division, Rock Star Suzuki rider Jimmey Albertson placed 5th on Scoporpion MX Soft (410)/ MX Mid Soft (32) tire combination.

In the Premier Supercross division, Moto XXX/Hooters Antonio Balbi placed 1 st in heat one over Torco Honda’s Kevin Windham. Blabi thanked Pirelli on the podium for the traction and grip his Pirelli tires gave him in the muddy Daytona conditions.

Bad Boy Racing’s Jacob Marsack earned Pirelli the final podium position in the SX main event behind Torco Honda’s Kevin Winham and Honda’s Davi Millsap.

Adding to Pirelli’s accomplishments at its Daytona Tire Test was having two Pirelli riders set the fastest lap times in Superstock, pushing the competition to third best. This scenario was repeated in Formula Xtreme also on race tires, according to media posted times of competing teams using qualifying tires.

Comparing the times of Pirelli riders at Daytona to those of riders on other tires, recorded during the two days prior, under essentially the same weather and track conditions, gives Pirelli the two fastest riders in AMA Superstock with Roadracingworld.com Suzuki’s Robertino Pietri laying down the fastest Superstock lap at 1:38.58. Within two hundreds of a second from Pietri was M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Blake Young, also on a Suzuki GSX-R1000 and with a lap time of 1:38.60. Again, both riders on their Pirelli Diablo Superbike Slicks had outdone all competition in Superstock.

In Formula Xtreme and Supersport it all went to Attack Kawasaki’s new rider Chaz Davies. In FX Davies rode his Pirelli Diablo Superbike Slicks to a time of 1:39.53, while in Supersport Davies circulated the AMA Daytona course on his ZX-6R at a time of 1:40.65. Winner of last year?s Daytona 200, Steve Rapp, took Davies’ ZX-6R to a time of 1:40.20, Rapp’s bike being unavailable for use for the entire test.

Other big news from Pirelli’s Daytona Tire test includes participation by BMW, testing for the Daytona 200 with factory personnel and BMW Motorcycles of Atlanta technicians taking part to support riders Nate Kern and Thomas Hinterreiter. The two BMW HP2 Sports brought in for the test were in World Endurance trim yet succeeded in setting FX lap times of 1:45.20 and 1:46.70 by Hinterreiter and Kern, respectively. BMW plans to enter four HP2 Sports in the 2008 Daytona 200.

Richie Morris Racing was also on hand with its Buell XB12R-based race bike and the liquid-cooled 2008 Buell 1125R, with Shawn Higbee doing test riding on the new machine. In restricted MotoST trim, the 1125R set a lap time of 1:47.20, but it should be noted that MotoST does not use the AMA course for its race but uses the banking on both ends of the super speedway. Unrestricted, the 1125R ran a time of 1:45.70, which was limited by the bike running out of gearing before coming into Daytona’s tri-oval.

Times set by Pirelli riders at the Pirelli Daytona Tire Test include:

Pirelli Diablo Superbike Slicks

Robertino Pietri, Roadracingworld.com Suzuki, GSX-R1000, Superstock: 1:38.58

Blake Young, M4 EMGO Suzuki, GSX-R1000, Superstock: 1:38.60

Chris Ulrich, Roadracingworld.com Suzuki, GSX-R1000, Superstock: 1:39.60

Chaz Davies, Attack Kawasaki, ZX-6R, Formula Xtreme: 1:39.53
Steve Rapp, Attack Kawasaki, ZX-6R, Formula Xtreme, 1:40.20

Martin Cardenas, M4 EMGO Suzuki, GSX-R600, Formula Xtreme, 1:41.98

Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa DOT racing tires

Chaz Davies, Attack Kawasaki, XZ-6R, Supersport: 1:40.65.

Steve Rapp, Attack Kawasaki, XZ-6R, Supersport: 1:41.51
Martin Cardenas, M4 EMGO Suzuki, GSX-R600, Supersport: 1:42.06
Cory West, M4 EMGO Suzuki, GSX-R600, Supersport: 1:42.9
Taylor Knapp, Kawasaki ZX-6R, Supersport: 1:44.30
Lenny Hale, Skunk Racing, Yamaha YZF-R6, Supersport: 1:44.59

ROME, Georgia, Feb. 21, 2007 ? Will Castro and the crew at Unique Autosports in Holbrook, New York kick off their third season on SPEED tonight at 10 p.m. EST. The season opening episode features NBA sensation Lebron James and recording star 50 Cent.

The episode will focus on the special treatment Unique Autosports will give Jame’s controversial Hummer H2, the gift from his mother thought to have violated his amateur status while he was still in high school. Pirelli Scorpion Zeros will be fitted to Jame’s Hummer while 50 Cent’s Lamborghini will ride on P Zero Rossos.

“We’re stepping it up at Unique, from the shop to the show, in season three,” says Will Castro, owner and founder of Unique Autosports. “We’ve expanded our crew and facilities to keep up with the demand and level of projects we are taking on.” The guest list for season threeis just as impressive, featuring sports stars Jermaine O’Neal, Al Harrington, Gary Sheffield, Andruw Jones, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Winky Wright, fashion designer Marc Ecko and actress Pamela Anderson.

Guy Mannino, president of Pirelli Tire North America commented “We have had a long and fruitful partnership with Will and his team and enjoy the challenges that he gives us when it comes to tire fitments for his customers’ vehicles. He really pushes the envelope, always looking for something special for his customers, and the success that he has enjoyed is thoroughly deserved. We are proud to be a part of his team.”

Pirelli Tire North America specializes in the manufacture and marketing of highperformance car, light truck and motorcycle tires and currently has four of its highly advanced MIRS (Modular Integrated Robotized System) modules in operation in its newest automated production facility in Rome, Georgia, to better serve the American OEM and Replacement markets. For more information, visit the Company’s web site at: www.us.pirelli.com.

This year, though, it was the Pirelli-shod Corvette
C5R of Hezemans-Longin- Kumpen that ended an exceptional
weekend in the best way possible. The Corvette C5Rs are well known
for their overwhelming performances in the American Le Mans Series
and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. But never before in the FIA GT
Championship.

After showing signs of quickness earlier in the season, the yellow
American coupe turned the heat on by dominating practice,
qualifying and the race at Imola, dictating the pace over the
entire 500-kilometer event. The Belgian-Dutch teams success
was particularly noteworthy considering that the Corvette competed
on P Zero Racing tires with extremely soft
compounds, which guaranteed an optimum and constant level of grip
on a circuit made really slippery by the excessive heat (asphalt
122 degrees F).

Mike Hezemans, who took pole position and set the races
fastest lap, was able to race to a substantial lead over the
opposition during his stint at the wheel. The C5R tires
supplied by Pirelli Competizioni showed only the
slightest sign of going off, despite the exceptional heat of the
day, and they always adapted well to our set-ups, said
Hezemans. With this result, we not only put ourselves back
in the championship race, but we also confirmed the outstanding
partnership of the Corvette-Pirelli team, a new partnership that
has already produced excellent results.

The P Zero Racing tires were also praised by the top Maserati
driver in the race, Fabio Babini, who said, The road holding
of the tires was excellent in conditions on the limit like those of
today, especially considering that the Pirellis enabled us to cover
two driving stints without changing the fronts at all, even though
we carried 80 kilos of ballast. Babini- Biagi and their
Vitaphone Maserati MC12 are now on their own at the top of the
provisional drivers championship table.

Pierluigi De Cancellis, Pirelli Competizionis Circuit
Manager, was clearly satisfied with the Imola result, saying,
The Corvettes victory confirms the outstanding
qualities of our P Zeros racing in severe heat conditions,
conditions which will probably be repeated during the next three or
four races. With four Pirelli-shod cars in the top five at Imola,
it was a very special weekend for us.