Pirelli’s return to F1 running smoothly
After a successful testing session at France’s Paul Ricard Circuit, Pirelli is well on its way to becoming sole tyre supplier of Formula One in 2011. Using both constructions and compounds, German driver Nick Heidfeld tried out the PZero Formula One tyres fitted to a Toyota TF109 engine over the course of two days.
Formula1.com reports Pirelli motorsport director, Paul Hembery, as stating, “We're very happy with the progress we've made so far, which actually puts us slightly ahead of where we expected to be at this point in time. We worked through an initial development programme that has given us a useful insight into the performance of our prototype tyres under a wide range of conditions, corners and speeds. We've been hugely encouraged by what we've seen up to now, and that's been helped by both Nick's clear and precise feedback, as well as all the different possibilities afforded to us by the Paul Ricard circuit.”
Pirelli enjoys a long and prestigious tradition in motorsport, founded in 1872 by engineer Giovanni Battista Pirelli in Milan, Italy. Since then, the company has grown into a worldwide enterprise, and has been at the forefront of state-of-the-art tyre technology since the 1920’s.
Maintaining a balance between technical agility and strong endurance, Pirelli’s products make it an ideal supplier for F1 racing. In two weeks, the company will test again in Spain, and is ahead of schedule so far. An iconic logo associated with the F1 circuit, Pirelli’s return will be one of tradition, while moving towards the future of tyre technology.
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