BIRMINGHAM, AL – Pirelli returns to the heat and humidity of Alabama this weekend for the Sunday running of the Porsche 250 presented by Legacy Credit Union at Barber Motorsports Park. The 2 ¾ hour Grand-Am Rolex Series contest is the featured race this weekend, and can be seen live on SPEED at 3 p.m. ET (Noon PT) Sunday, July 19th.

Daytona Prototype and GT competitors first learned how well Pirelli P Zeros perform in excessive hot and humid conditions during last year’s Porsche 250 at Barber. They also had a quick reminder of what it is like to race in the intense heat of the southeastern United States July 4th this season during the Brumos Porsche 250 at Daytona. Both races were run in the midst of excessive humidity and searing summer afternoon temperatures approaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Last year’s Porsche 250 at Barber presented the dual-challenges of high heat and high-grip twists and turns of the ultra-modern Alabama race track – challenges that Pirelli passed with flying colors.

“Conditions were really, really hot,” said Wayne Taylor, after watching Max Angelelli drive the No. 10 SunTrust/Wayne Taylor Racing Ford Dallara to victory at the Porsche 250 at Daytona nearly two weeks ago. “Alex Gurney was all over Max, and he was pushing as hard as he can. But we kept the tires under us, and when we finished we were still lapping very, very quickly at the end. (Pirelli P Zero) tires are the best, and Pirelli needs to be in Grand-Am forever.”

Taylor was a proponent of Pirelli since before they entered the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series as its official tire supplier last year. As a champion driver and now team owner, Taylor is quick to point out that it is ultimately the teams and drivers that need to work hard to get the most out of the Pirelli P Zeros.

“I have always felt good about Pirelli and I knew they were going to be a great partner for Grand-Am,” Taylor said. “They make a good tire, and it is up to the teams to manage the tire with proper pressures and so forth. Daytona proved, in extreme conditions, what the Pirellis can do, and nobody should question the performance of these tires. I am one of Pirelli’s biggest supporters and will continue to be.”

Dirk Werner has won the last three consecutive GT class races and a total of four this year with teammate Leh Keen in the No. 87 Farnbacher Loles Porsche GT3. Daytona was just as tough on him and his equipment as any of the Grand-Am Rolex Series competitors, but he was also quick to point out the role driver and teams have in preserving their equipment in severe conditions.

“Tire management is very important,” said Werner, who shares a 29-point lead with Keen in the GT standings. “You can feel the heat… and you really have to handle and manage your tires – but it is the same for everybody and Pirelli gives us a good tire.”

Another Porsche GT team also proved at Daytona how well Pirelli P Zeros perform in even unforeseen extreme conditions. The No. 68 Cohen Financial/TRG Porsche GT3 of Scott Schroeder and Josemanuel Gutierrez was trouble-free early in the race before a pit stop.

“During the pit stop, about an hour into the race, Josemanuel got out after a good stint, but the left rear wheel got struck,” Schroeder said. “We did the full race with the same left tire.  Even with that problem, we were still able to hold off some guys behind us and had our best finish of the year.  Pirelli makes a good tire and I think we did some serious endurance testing for them today in the 95-degree heat!”

Schroeder – who set the No. 68’s fastest race lap just 12 laps from the finish – and Gutierrez scored a season-best finish of seventh in the GT class. 

Sunday’s Porsche 250 at Barber Motorsports Park will be run on the 2.3 mile, 16-turn road course and is the eighth race of the 2009 season. Tickets and detailed race weekend information is available at www.grand-am.com.

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.

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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

Pirelli has been selected by Lotus Cars Limited as the principal supplier of tires for the stunning new Lotus Evora.

The Evora is the first all new Lotus to be released since the iconic Elise roadster in 1995. The launch at Loch Lomond in Scotland earlier this month gave the press a perfect opportunity to drive the exhilarating Evora on its original equipment (OE) fitment Pirelli P ZerosTM, experiencing first hand how well the partnership between car and tire really works.

The fitment for the Lotus Evora is the Pirelli P ZeroTM, which also serves as a reference point for many other ultra-high performance vehicles – and provides cars with superior grip and sharper steering response and feel. The homologated size on the Evora is the 225/40ZR18 on the front and 255/35ZR19 on the rear.

Mathew Becker, Executive Engineer of Vehicle Dynamics for Lotus believes that the Pirelli P ZeroTM enhances the dynamic performance of the Evora. “The Lotus Evora has been developed to deliver class-leading steering and handling performance whilst maintaining excellent ride quality. The exceptional abilities of Pirelli’s P ZeroTM enhance these vital elements, and we have been impressed with the excellent steering linearity and consistent grip levels that this particular tire provides in all conditions.”

The most technologically advanced product to come out of Pirelli Research & Development, the P ZeroTM offers the most demanding drivers unprecedented performance in all areas: sports handling, comfort and safety thanks to a range of ground-breaking features developed by Pirelli and protected by 5 patents. The asymmetric tread pattern is innovative with a design that responds both to the need for increased levels of safety and for enhanced performance of the car. Precise in the dry and resolute in the wet, P ZeroTM maintains remarkable consistency between its static and dynamic footprint. The P ZeroTM tread pattern also ensures durability and consistent performance throughout the life of the tire. The active structure of the P ZeroTM responds to rolling stresses without transmitting tension through to the steering wheel, even at high speed. The tires use compounds that react immediately, guaranteeing the same high degree of performance whether the tire is cold or up to temperature. It is these attributes that helps make the P ZeroTM the ideal tire of choice for the Lotus Evora.

P Zero Sizes used on the Lotus Evora

Front: 225/40 ZR18 92 Y XL
Rear: 255/35 ZR19 96 YXL

In recognition of its superb handling both in the dry and in the wet the P ZeroTM has recently been awarded Tire of the Year 2009 by Auto Express.

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.

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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

Homologations on New Supercars by Ferrari, Aston Martin and Alfa Romeo

MILAN, Italy – Pirelli once again confirms its leadership as the tire of reference for ultra-high-performance cars, and its position as the top technological partner of the most prestigious car manufacturers with these three aces: the Alfa Romeo 8C Spider, the Ferrari 599 HGTE, and the Aston Martin V12 Vantage. These supercars will be launched in the coming days with Pirelli P Zero tires. ‘Original Equipment on the World’s Finest’, the P Zero is an ultra-high-performance product line developed by Pirelli for high performance cars such as those from partners Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and Aston Martin. Pirelli is proud to have confirmed its position as original equipment for these new models thanks to the excellent characteristics of reliability, performance and comfort offered by P Zero.

Presented at the Geneva motor show, the Alfa Romeo 8C Spider will be launched officially at Balocco in the next few days with P Zero tires (245/35ZR20 and 285/35ZR20). The P Zero is the latest evolution in tire design from the Pirelli research team. Covered by 5 patents, the P Zero has an innovative compound, structure and tread design, and was specifically developed for high-performance cars of the latest generation to guarantee the greatest driving pleasure and safety.

P Zero’s sportier compound – the P Zero Corsa – was designed with two different tread patterns. It guarantees total grip in curves, under acceleration and braking. These characteristics make it ideal both for the track and for the most demanding road conditions – that is why it was chosen for the Ferrari 599 HGTE (in 245/35ZR20 and 305/35ZR20 sizes), while the British super-sport Aston Martin V12 Vantage went straight for the P Zero Corsa (in 255/35ZR19 and 295/30ZR19).

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.

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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