Pirelli withdraws from the World Rally Championship (WRC) at the end of 2024
At the beginning of the summer last July, FIA (FIA) The rally company has launched a call for tenders to supply tires for the WRC World Rally Championship for the upcoming period from 2025 to 2027.
After Clermont-Ferrand’s Auvergne subsidiary took over the French manufacturer, Michelin, the Italian company that won the previous tender to bid for the period between 2021 and 2024, announced that it would not be a candidate for his own succession.
” Pirelli – which participates in more than 350 motorsport championships around the world – remains committed to rallying and will continue to participate in all other rally competitions in which it currently participates. Among these championships is the European Rally Championship organized by the International Automobile Federation, which was won this year by New Zealander Hayden Paddon at the wheel of a Hyundai equipped with Pirelli tires. The ERC is organized by the same promoter as the WRC, and several tire manufacturers participate. Pirelli is also present in more than 40 national rally championships around the world, in addition to a wide range of other events for modern and historic rally cars. »
If the rumors are to be believed, Michelin should be a candidate to succeed Pirelli, as should Indian manufacturer MRF.
Recall that the French company was already the supplier to the WRC before the Transalpine brand, between 2011 and 2020. ´
The FIA is expected to announce the final nominee on October 19.
Pirelli’s withdrawal was desired and expected by many well-known drivers, such as eight-time world champion, Frenchman Sebastien Ogier, who complained on several occasions about the poor quality of Italian tires.
Claude Julien
Photos: Manufacturer
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