With over a century of involvement in motorsport activities, Pirelli has always distinguished itself for designing products which are perfectly in line with the specific needs of the type of competition they have been developed for. While its P Zero Formula One tires have been specifically designed to have variable and controlled durability features, those developed for endurance racing are characterized by strong resistance and extremely high durability, which are vital for events such as the Nürburgring 24 Hours.
Pirelli has been involved in endurance racing for many years supplying its P Zero tires to some of the most prestigious events on the calendar in Europe and in the Unites States, including several editions of the Le Mans 24 Hours, the 24 Hours of Spa, the Daytona 24 Hours and the 12 Hours of Sebring.
At Nürburgring next weekend, Pirelli will supply its covers to a wide variety of touring and GT cars competing in several different classes, such as BMW’s Z4 GT3, Z4 Coupe, M3 GT4 and MINI models as well as the Porsche 997 Cup and Porsche Cayman, the 135d Phantom and Volvo’s C30 cars.
Pirelli tires will also be used on the P4/5 Competizione car developed by Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus. Eligible for the EXP1 class, the prototype is based on the Ferrari 430 Scuderia and has received technical support from Pirelli’s engineers during its preparations for the Nürburgring race.
As the P4/5 Competizione is a bespoke project, Pirelli has worked in close cooperation with the team during tests and VLN races to develop a tire specific to the car. It has also assisted the drivers – Luca Cappellari, Fabrizio Giovanardi, Nicola Larini and Mika Salo – in making the right tire choice for the event.
Pirelli will supply three different types of tire for the Nürburgring 24 Hours: two slick compounds designed for dry surfaces (soft and hard), a single intermediate tire for mixed or humid conditions and a wet tire and for wet surfaces. The dimensions of each tire are 325/650–18 at the front and 325/705-18 at the rear.
“At Pirelli we are very keen on supporting new projects because we enjoy being involved in new challenges from which we can always learn something and improve the quality of our racing and road products,” said Pirelli’s Motorsport Director Paul Hembery.
“When racing at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, a tire with good grip and excellent endurance is needed in order to provide a good balance between resistance and high performance levels over a stint that can be up to 230 kilometers. For this year’s edition, we will bring an improved version of our P Zero tires, which has been specifically developed for the P4/5 Competizione prototype. The new tire will provide higher durability and performance in track conditions that are likely to be cold especially at night and low in terms of grip.”
The Nürburgring 24 Hours will take place on the long track configuration, which comprises the grand prix circuit and the older north loop. With a lap length of 25.359 kilometers, more than 200 cars are permitted to take the start. And with the first five VLN races at the Nürburgring being won by a factory-entered BMW, a GT3-class Mercedes SLS, a new Ferrari 458, a Hybrid Porsche GT3 and an Audi R8 LMS, at least five different brands are expected to challenge for the overall win.
