Tag: Mario Isola
F1 ‘possibly the most demanding customer that we have’ – Isola
Pirelli’s agreement to supply tyres to Formula 1 for another four years follows a year in which the manufacturer confirmed it was working on a Cyber Tyre solution – Pirelli’s smart tyre development programme – for motorsport. After securing another term supplying the pinnacle of motorsport Pirelli’s car racing manager Mario Isola tells Tyres & Accessories why the tyre manufacturer was so keen to continue with its Formula 1 supply deal.
Pirelli unveiled as BAC Mono OE tyre partner
The Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) and Pirelli have announced a new original equipment agreement at Autosport International. Pirelli’s head of car racing, Mario Isola, Pirelli UK motorsport manager Jonathan Wells, and BAC co-founders Neill and Ian Briggs jointly introduced the arrangement, which means the British manufacturer’s Mono will run on the P Zero Trofeo R.
Pirelli boosts SRO link Blancpain GT World Challenge, Pirelli GT4 America Series
Pirelli’s global motorsport partnership with promoter SRO Motorsports Group has been strengthened with the arrival of the Blancpain GT World Challenge in 2019. The global championship brings together the Pirelli World Challenge in USA alongside the other GT sprint series promoted by SRO throughout Europe and Asia. This brings the total number of SRO competitions supplied by Pirelli up to 12. Pirelli will also become the headline sponsor of the new Pirelli GT4 America series, with 36 cars homologated, 20 of which are brand new models.
Pirelli revises F1 tyre colour coding
Depending on how you look at it, Pirelli has either simplified its F1 tyre colour coding for 2019 or made it more complicated. Only three P Zero colours will be seen at each race next year. These will always be the same – white, yellow and red – and denote the hard, medium and soft tyre choices at every Grand Prix. But the use of just three colours doesn’t mean Pirelli will only offer three tyre compounds.
Pirelli sees technology transfer value in F1 smart tyres
Pirelli has presented new solutions and concepts as part of its Cyber Tyre development programme for more than a decade now. At last year’s Geneva Motor Show, the tyre maker introduced the Connesso system, a sensor-based solution that provides motorists with real-time tyre pressure and temperature data, as well as information about use and maintenance. Yet Cyber Tyre has only focused on road-going solutions so far – a further step for Pirelli would be to introduce its technology into Formula 1.
F1: Pit stop strategy helped Vettel to victory
Pirelli began an eighth season as Formula 1 tyre supplier at the Australian Grand Prix over the weekend, and it opines that pit stop strategy was “central” to the race’s outcome.
Pirelli increases presence at Autosport International
Pirelli showcased the broad variety of its global motorsport programme from the largest stand it has ever presented at Autosport International at the 2018 edition of the show. Pirelli’s head of car racing Mario Isola, who heads up the company’s Formula One programme, visited the show along with around 100,000 other visitors over the course of the weekend.
38,788 tyres and 120kg of parmesan cheese – Pirelli’s year in F1
This year’s Formula 1 season ended with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix late last month and preparations are already under way for 2018. Looking back over its year as exclusive tyre supplier to the championship, Pirelli has presented statistics from its 2017 season.
Pirelli returning to WRC in 2018
Following a year off in 2017, Pirelli will return to the World Rally Championship from next year. The tyre maker has already homologated new products for the latest generation of WRC car as well as the feeder WRC2 category. In addition, from next year Pirelli also commences exclusive tyre supply for the Junior World Rally Championship, a series dedicated to drivers born later than 1 January 1989 and contested using identical R2-class Ford Fiestas. The winner will become the owner of a brand-new Fiesta R5 together with a tyre, fuel and free rally entries package towards the 2019 WRC2 season.
Teams try out 2018 Pirelli F1 range
Testing of Pirelli’s 2018 Formula 1 tyres took place at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina circuit over a two-day period this week, and following the conclusion of proceedings the tyre maker is proud to report that four-time and current champion Lewis Hamilton has declared the new PZero Pink hypersoft tyre the “best tyre Pirelli has ever made.”
Hypersoft and Superhard options joining Pirelli’s F1 range in 2018
Changes such as those seen this year won’t be a hallmark of the Formula 1 tyre range Pirelli offers teams in 2018, however the tyre maker says this doesn’t mean it hasn’t been busy. In line with its aim of ensuring an average of two pit stops at most races, two extra compounds and sidewall colours will join the Pirelli Formula 1 tyre range in 2018. The line-up previewed by the tyre maker at last weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix also includes fresh constructions, compounds and working ranges.
Pirelli congratulates Hamilton on 4th F1 title, Verstappen on ultra/supersoft win in Mexico
Yesterday’s Mexican Grand Prix delivered Lewis Hamilton his fourth drivers’ title, not to mention a moment of bated breath in the very first round as Hamilton’s Mercedes made contact with the Ferrari of closest title contender Sebastian Vettel. The collision, comments Pirelli, added an extra tactical element to the race, as both protagonists were forced to deviate from the expected one-stop strategy.
Softer Pirelli P Zero F1 tyre line-up for the Japanese grand prix at Suzuka
Pirelli has continued its late-season trend of introducing softer Formula One compounds than in 2016 with its selection for the Japanese grand prix at Suzuka. Mario Isola, head of car racing, says that “this is particularly pertinent” at Suzuka, “as it’s one of the most challenging tracks for tyres of the entire year, with a very big emphasis on lateral loads that can cause thermal degradation if the tyres are not properly managed.
Alternative tyre strategy helps Vettel to 4th at Malaysian grand prix
While all the frontrunners at the final Malaysian Grand Prix used a similar single-stop tyre strategy, changing from Pirelli P Zero Red supersoft to Yellow soft tyres, Sebastian Vettel’s Ferrari reversed the order to support his bid for points from the back of the grid. The German chose to start the race on the soft tyres to try and gain track position, switching to the faster supersoft tyres on the same lap that Red Bull’s Max Verstappen pitted from the lead to change from supersoft to soft. Verstappen won the race from the second row of the grid.
Pirelli brings World Challenge Series, motorsport tech to Project CARS 2 game
Pirelli has joined simulation company Slightly Mad Studios’ Project CARS franchise in a technical, promotional, and marketing partnership. The agreement brings Pirelli’s motorsport and tyre technology, and North America’s premier GT production series, the Pirelli World Challenge, to the second iteration of the game. The series will come with Project CARS 2’s release on 22 September, playable in the in-game career mode, and featuring GT3 cars and their specific liveries. Tracks include Long Beach, Circuit of the Americas, Road America, and the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.