Pirelli is thinking about the present, about the 2022 World Rally, but is also looking to the near future. This season, the hybrid Rally1 cars made their debut in the WRC, the cars that replaced the WRC Plus and today represent the reference cars in the category.
The Milanese manufacturer, the only tire supplier of the WRC, has made the tires for these cars, working hard over the last year to get ready for this season, obtaining excellent results in the first 5 outings of the year in which it was able to test its products on all types of bottom.
Development tests for next year’s roofs began a few weeks ago. Pirelli was able and will be able to take advantage of the availability of the top WRC drivers to prepare the tires for next season. A very important aspect for the Italian company, but also for the teams themselves, who will thus be able to have immediate feedback from their top drivers and start next season already knowing the characteristics of the tires they will use during the year.
“We have already started preparing the tires for next year. We did the first test agreed with the FIA, we did it in Croatia with Rovanpera,” Pirelli rally activity manager Terenzio Testoni told Motorsport.com.
“Thanks to the FIA we were able to make an agreement with the teams to have the official drivers in the development tests and the current cars, the Rally1, so we can finally do them with them. We will have the starting drivers and so we will avoid saying that we do not use drivers. who do not make the World Championship and therefore do not have the same weight. We started with asphalt tires in Croatia and we are waiting for the Safari to take the next step. Let’s see what happens. “
Testoni then went deeper into the topic of 2023 tires. Pirelli has created several prototypes that will have to be tested over the next few months and has also made use of simulations to try to predict the behavior, strengths and weaknesses of the tires that will be tested. .
“We have made many prototypes for next year’s tires, but above all we are relying a lot on simulations. What counts is the experience we already have in F1, where the simulations are now constant. Our prototypes are tested in simulation then, depending on needs, we take them to the tests to try them “.
Regarding the first test, Pirelli has already received the first feedback from Toyota and Rovanpera. While the next test, which will also involve Hyundai Motorsport and M-Sport, has not yet been defined. Everything will depend on the priorities of the moment.
“Toyota has already given us some feedback and we already know what the positive aspects are, but also those where the tires need to be improved.”
“We have not yet defined the next test. We have many new solutions for both asphalt and dirt, but depending on the priorities and we will see where to do the next tests”, concluded Testoni.
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