Pirelli bringing new wet GT tyre into second DTM season

Pirelli has evolved its Cinturato WHB to develop a new wet weather tyre for Gran Turismo cars that is “completely renewed in design and optimised in its main performance features.” The tyre maker will provide the tyre for all GT championships in which it is involved, beginning with the start of this year’s DTM and ADAC GT Masters championship, which Pirelli is serving as sole tyre supplier for a second season.

“The DTM is an excellent test bench in racing for the new Cinturato,” says Matteo Braga, circuit activity manager. “In the German series, in fact, top teams and drivers compete on demanding tracks and in sprint races that are always open to the end. The revamped wet-weather tyre, like the P Zero DHF dry-weather tyre, has been developed to meet the needs of all the GT2, GT3 and GT4 cars that compete in all the championships for which we are suppliers and to which it will be gradually extended, according to the needs and schedules of the promoters and teams. The GTWC (GT World Challenge), in its various continental articulations, will be the next step.”

The Cinturato WHB, which completes the renewal of the GT range after the 2022 launch of the P Zero DHF dry tyre, features a new tread design that has enabled the use of latest-generation materials. These new compounds, together with increased tread rigidity, have improved the footprint, optimising grip and warm-up at low temperatures, without compromising stability in wet-to-dry transition conditions and sensitivity to aquaplaning, which has actually increased. This broadens the WHB’s field of use compared to the previous generation tyre.

Back with DTM

The evolved Cinturato WHB joins the line-up of tyres that Pirelli will supply as it enters its second season with the DTM, continuing to be the exclusive supplier of tyres for the up to 600-hp Audi, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche cars in 2024/2025. Last season, Pirelli tyres were used for the first time in the 40-year history of the DTM.

Pirelli says its tyres were already a decisive factor in last year’s DTM races. In 2023, the top six qualifying drivers started each race on the tyres they used in qualifying, and the following competitors started on fresh tyres. This rule, which influences the race strategies of the participants, has now been extended to the fastest ten in qualifying.

“Our collaboration is invaluable, not only because of the reliable high quality of the tyres. In Pirelli, we have a company with experience from numerous international racing series, including Formula 1,” says ADAC motorsport director Thomas Voss.

Matteo Braga adds: “We are looking forward to continuing our experience in this top-class championship and to working with an organiser, teams and drivers of the highest quality. The decision to launch our new generation of wet tyres in the DTM is no coincidence. It has been developed on the basis of our experience last year on the tracks of this series and will now be gradually extended to all GT series. The new rain tyre is part of our programme to continuously develop our product range to follow the evolution of the ever more powerful GT cars and to meet the expectations of our customers.”

More than 350 championships

Pirelli is present in more than 350 track and off-road championships and claims to be the tyre manufacturer most involved in motorsport worldwide. In the GT series, the Milan-based company is the sole supplier and technology partner not only to the DTM, but also to the GTWC Europe, the GTWC America, the GTWC Asia, the Intercontinental GT Challenge and the main international races and national championships.