Formula One car’s to move on the Pirelli Tyres
Pirelli is expected to become the next official tyre supplier for Formula One racing. Negotiations between the two organisations have been taking place for some time now and it is hoped that soon, the teams are going to finalise a deal with the Italian tyre manufacturing company.
The preferred route for the 2011 season came under intense discussion which went on for several weeks. Finally, the teams were able to finalise the company after several days of evaluations between Michelin and Pirelli. The merits and demerits of both tyre manufacturing companies along with their utility and respective efficiency on the defined route for 2011 were discussed with intense scrutiny.
To get to a final decision, a lot of pondering on the matter and extensive conference calls were held which involved the members of the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA), from all across the globe. After undergoing the long process, the final verdict has fallen in Pirelli’s favour. It had been preferred over Michelin by almost all the members of the association.
Although sources have confirmed that the final decision has been made by Formula One, yet the final contract has not been signed between the two. It is heard that so far, some of the basic terms and conditions are to be settled between the FIA and Formula One Management. The situation so far seems to be flowing comfortably and there is not much doubt that all necessary confirmations will be done without any confusion. Once the documents are signed, the official announcements will be made to the public.
Marco Tronchetti Provera Pirelli’s Chairman, while talking to the media expressed that most of the things have been settled by now. He further added that the company is hopeful that by Friday, the matter would be finalised and officially declared.
Once the confirmation from Pirelli’s side is finalised, the teams and drivers would be making further developments accordingly. It will lead to the final designing of the cars for the 2011 season. The manufacturers, designers and the drivers would want to know what tyres they would they be running on in the upcoming season. As the contract is finalised, Pirelli will get down to work, in order to develop the F1 rubber.
The details of the deal that have made it to the surface explain that Pirelli will supply the teams with 13-inch tyres for the next two years at least. As per the details, the teams would be receiving guarantees till the year 2013 which in essence signifies that there will be no tyre war till that date.
Pirelli has never been involved in Formula One after its detachment in 1991. Mario Isola, Pirelli's racing manager while talking to AUTOSPORT a couple of weeks back told that he was very confident about his company's bid and knew at the back of his mind that the deal would be finalised between the two companies.
He also added that Pirelli has a very long tradition in motorsport. They expressed that the company had shown promising technical capability to build motorsport tyres and just like the past, they had proved this with F1 along with WRC in recent years by being their only supplier.
He told that in WRC’s case, it was tough to convince them as some of the teams did not use their tyres ever before and began in an uncertain situation. He pleasantly added that the company showed that they are completely able to design and manufacture a tyre that was consistent and dependable. He assured that the teams that have showed confidence in them would not be disappointed at all.
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