Pirelli & C. S.p.A. chosen to be the sole tyre supplier to the World Rally Championship (WRC) from 2021 to at-least 2024, ending Michelin's long reign at the championship.
Italian giants Pirelli have been associated with the WRC since time immemorial. The tyre firm has finally been picked again after 10 years to exclusively supply all tyres used by Rally1 (World Rally Cars) and Rally2 cars (R5 class) for a four-year term starting in 2021 until the end of 2024.
The 2021-2024 period will mark Pirelli's second stint in the WRC as an exclusive tyre supplier, having done the same from 2008 to 2010.
In its last season as exclusive tyre suppliers for the championship, the company registered two world titles with Sébastien Loeb and Citroën.
Pirelli already supplies junior categories in the World and European Rally Championships and recently signed a four-year extension to its Formula 1 agreement. Pirelli’s appointment came after an approval from the FIA World Motor Sport Council e-voting held this week
The F1 tyre supplier has successfully dethroned Michelin, which along with MRF and Hankook, contested for the official tender for the championship
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Speaking about Pirelli's appointment, FIA rally director Yves Matton said:
“This is an exciting new phase in the development of the World Rally Championship and we are happy to announce Pirelli as our exclusive single tyre supplier for a period of four years from 2021. I am convinced Pirelli will bring a wealth of experience to the programme.”
via press release
The company boasts of a long and successful past in the WRC , amassing 181 wins and 25 world titles with some of the most successful teams and drivers in the sport. After the break in 2017, the tyre manufacturing giants came back in 2018 to become the exclusive tyre supplier for the Junior World Rally Championship.
The company also tasted success recently in the WRC's support categories - winning the WRC 2 class at Wales Rally GB, where 2002 WRC champion Petter Solberg was victorious using Pirellis on his Volkswagen Polo R5.
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