Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • European Rubber Journal
  • Plastics News
web
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • ITEC
    • Automotive
    • Tire
    • Non-Tire
    • Suppliers
    • Silicone
    • Latex
    • Coronavirus
    • Executive Action
    • Government/Legal
    • Opinion
    • Technical Notebooks
    • International Elastomer Show
    • Women in Tire & Rubber
    • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Goodyear recognized by Lockheed Martin as 'elite supplier'
      EV tire advancements to help secure future
      Lambillotte: Only question on AVs is timing
      CAR official says EV future brighter than autonomous
    • Goodyear-branded transmission belts set to return
      Hot topics at virtual CES: AVs, air taxis and drones
      Apollo to raise prices of Vredestein brand tires
      China's tire production up in 2020
    • Greenergy, Haldor Topsoe tech turns tires to fuel
      India decides against extending carbon black duties
      GRI expanding ag tire capacity at 3-year-old Sri Lanka plant
      Apollo to raise prices of Vredestein brand tires
    • NewAge Industries celebrates 15 years of employee ownership
      India decides against extending carbon black duties
      WCCO task force navigates pandemic, expands communications
      JobsOhio funding gives Sperry & Rice room to grow
    • Safic-Alcan and Arkema working together on distribution deal
      India decides against extending carbon black duties
      Biesterfeld to supply Denka acrylate rubbers
      Ace Products & Consulting partners with Wallace Instruments
    • Ace Products & Consulting partners with Wallace Instruments
      Safic-Alcan extends distribution agreement with Momentive
      Momentive aims to grow silicone presence in Asia-Pacific region
      IRP Medical solidifies portfolio with KDL deal
    • WCCO task force navigates pandemic, expands communications
      ASTM cancels April meetings as COVID-19 continues impact
      Paycheck Protection Program funding reopens Jan. 15
      Detroit Auto Show canceled; alternative event being planned for September
    • ARP Materials adds technical sales manager
      Jack Murphy joins Akron Dispersions
      Adriano Alfani named Versalis CEO
      Maroon Group adds to Southeast sales team
    • India decides against extending carbon black duties
      Hot topics at virtual CES: AVs, air taxis and drones
      Paycheck Protection Program funding reopens Jan. 15
      Taiwan tire makers propose settlement of import duties case
    • Column: Pandemic looms over everything in life, business in 2020
      Column: Lessons from the 2020 Best Places to Work
      Editorial: Silicone hit hard by pandemic, expected to bounce back
      Column: Still far way from normal
    • Effects of multiple repurposed materials for reinforcements of standard rubber compounds
      Impact of peroxide blends on the cure rate and aged properties in HNBR
      Techniques to detect long chain branching in polymers
      A comparative study looking at effects of curing kinetics and batch variation on SBR injection molding and numerical analytics
    • Rubber Division seeks abstracts for 200th Technical Meeting
      WORD panelists say evolution, authenticity keys to success
      IEC keynote: Communication key to logistics
      IEC speaker: Specialized elastomers may reduce spread of life-threatening pathogens
    • WORD panelists say evolution, authenticity keys to success
      New video celebrates women in rubber industry
      ITEC panelists say women can thrive in tire industry
      Rubber Division planning second Women of Rubber event
    • Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Faster Access to Your Polymer Compounding Experts Around the World
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Take a walk thru a HEXPOL Lab
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      HEXPOL offers a unique selection of High Performance Elastomers to match your application requirements
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      It’s what you can’t see that makes the Difference at HEXPOL
  • Blogs
    • Products
    • Wacky World of Rubber
    • New Products: MonTech introduces 1,500 kN lab press
      New products: 3M introduces new durable, pliable medical adhesive
      New Products: Lanxess launches energy-efficient PU elastomer
      New Products: MonTech automates bale cutter for safety, productivity
    • Wacky World of Rubber: How Trelleborg, teens sealed a spot in the world record book
      Wacky World of Rubber: Of chicken and feet, but not chicken feet
      Wacky World of Rubber: Time to go mattress shopping
      Wacky World of Rubber: Because nothing says football like 'frunk' shrimp
  • Newsletters
    • Rubber in Automotive
    • Silicone News
    • Latex News
    • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Goodyear-branded transmission belts set to return
      Hot topics at virtual CES: AVs, air taxis and drones
      Apollo to raise prices of Vredestein brand tires
      China's tire production up in 2020
    • Ace Products & Consulting partners with Wallace Instruments
      Safic-Alcan extends distribution agreement with Momentive
      Momentive aims to grow silicone presence in Asia-Pacific region
      IRP Medical solidifies portfolio with KDL deal
    • Jack Murphy joins Akron Dispersions
      Synthomer optimistic, raises earnings forecast
      Top Glove reopens COVID-hit factories with enhanced precautions
      Malaysia electronics group to enter rubber gloves sector
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Directory
  • Resources
    • Classifieds & Mold Mart
    • Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
    • Sponsored By HB Chemical
      The Company Behind the Inventory
      Sponsored By French Oil Mill Machinery
      Process Improvement, Cost Reduction with Custom Press Systems
    • Sponsored By Uncountable Inc.
      Cooper Standard deploys lab informatics platform to synchronize R&D
      Sponsored By Elkem
      LSR Selectâ„¢: A solution to improve your financial impact in molding applications
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Understanding and Selecting Performance Additives for Rubber Compounding
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Peroxide Cureable Silicone Injection Molding
  • Data
  • Events
    • RPN Events
    • RPN Livestreams/Webinars
    • Industry Events
    • Past Events
    • ITEC Library
    • International Silicone Conference Library
    • 2021 Healthcare Elastomers Virtual Edition
      2021 Rubber in Automotive Virtual Edition
      2020 International Silicone Conference Virtual Edition
      2020 ITEC Virtual Edition
  • Advertise
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
July 30, 2010 02:00 AM

Pirelli banks on F1 contract for marketing boost

David Shaw
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    MILAN, Italy—Pirelli Tyre S.p.A. will use its new status as Formula 1 racing's designated tire supplier as a cornerstone for its marketing efforts in the developing countries of the world, especially in Latin America and Asia, according to Pirelli Tyre CEO Francesco Gori.

    Pirelli was named the contract tire supplier for Formula 1 and F1's companion GP2 Series for the 2011-13 seasons by the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), ending a nine-month search by the FIA to replace Bridgestone Corp., which bows out at season's end after four years as sole supplier.

    A key to Pirelli's bid for the F1 contract is the potential brand awareness and brand promotion in regions such as China, India, the Middle East and other potential growth areas, Gori said, adding there is less urgency to promote the Pirelli brand in Europe or North America where it already enjoys high recognition.

    “Younger people in the population (of these countries) may not know Pirelli as well as our European customers and South American customers,” Gori said.

    Formula 1 claims to have attracted 2 billion television viewers during the 2009 season, with half of those in emerging markets, according to Marco Tronchetti-Provera, chairman of Pirelli & C. S.p.A.

    The company expects to unveil a three-year strategic plan in November strongly focused on growth, Gori said. Pirelli recently told analysts it was accelerating previously announced capital investments in South America, Russia, China, Egypt and Italy to keep pace with anticipated rising demand in emerging economies.

    Pirelli expects its three-year F1 tire supply deal to be cost neutral.

    “At the end of the day, the cost for us, taking into account all items, is zero compared to our budget,” Gori said, adding the company will reduce its advertising and sponsorship spending in other venues to compensate for the increase in the F1 area.

    Previous estimates of F1 tire supply have ranged from $100 million to $200 million annually.

    Gori also said Pirelli's aim will be to move the design of the F1 tire to lower aspect ratios over time, changing the construction potentially to 40 series from the current 50 series rear tire design.

    To do so, Pirelli will work with teams and show them how the performance and handling can be improved with lower aspect ratios, which more closely match those of road-going high-performance cars.

    He emphasized that any evolution would be progressive and steady.

    “You cannot move from F1 13-inch based chassis to an 18 inch (tire) in just one season,” he said, “so probably the evolution will go by steps.”

    Pirelli will dedicate a team of engineers to address F1's requirements in terms of reliability, safety and performance, according to Maurizio Boiocchi, head of research and development for the Milan-based tire maker. Pirelli also will shift resources now dedicated to its World Rally Championship and Grand-Am Road Racing efforts.

    Pirelli's single-source contracts with both racing series lapse after the 2010 season; Pirelli will continue to compete in the WRC though.

    The R&D team will be based at Pirelli's Milan headquarters, Boiocchi said, but race tires will be produced at the firm's dedicated motorsports tire production site at its Izmit, Turkey, factory, where Pirelli has been making race tires since 2006. Race tire production capacity is listed as 240,000 tires per year

    Tronchetti Provera said Pirelli does not anticipate having to make any additional investment in Turkey to handle the F1 and GP2 contracts. Earlier this year Pirelli added production there for the GP3 series, a new single-seat, open-wheel racing series that's considered a stepping stone to GP2 and eventually F1.

    Bridgestone, which notified the FIA at end of the 2009 season it would bow out after the 2010 season, has not stated what it intends to do with the remaining infrastructure associated with its activities in Formula 1 and GP2 but expects to do so in the near future. The firm did say it intends to end the production of race tires for GP2 at its Rome technical center,

    “Bridgestone's future will be in producing market-leading tires for the new breed of cars and trucks currently under development,” a Bridgestone Europe spokesperson said. “Tire technology is shifting with the vehicle makers and the requirements of new legislation.”

    Bridgestone's other major initiatives in motorsports are as exclusive supplier to Indy Car and Indy Car's Indy Lights series (with the Firestone brand), MotoGP World Championship (Bridgestone brand), Formula Nippon in Japan and as one of several suppliers to the Super GT series in Japan. Bridgestone also supplies tires to the GP2 series in Asia. The status of that contract for next year or beyond is uncertain.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Rubber & Plastics News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].

    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Rubber & Plastics News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe Today

    Subscribe to Rubber & Plastics News to get the best coverage and leading insights in the industry.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    MISSION

    To serve companies in the global rubber product industry by delivering news, industry insights, opinions and technical information.

    web
    Contact Us

    2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000
    Cuyahoga Falls,
    OH 44221

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1726

    Resources
    • About Us
    • Digital Edition
    • Contact the Staff
    • Advertise
    • Order Reprints
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Partner Sites
    • Tire Business
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Automotive News
    • Crain Brands
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • ITEC
      • Automotive
      • Tire
      • Non-Tire
      • Suppliers
      • Silicone
      • Latex
      • Coronavirus
      • Executive Action
      • Government/Legal
      • Opinion
      • Technical Notebooks
      • International Elastomer Show
      • Women in Tire & Rubber
      • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Blogs
      • Products
      • Wacky World of Rubber
    • Newsletters
      • Rubber in Automotive
      • Silicone News
      • Latex News
      • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Multimedia
      • Videos
      • Photo Galleries
    • Directory
    • Resources
      • Classifieds & Mold Mart
      • Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
    • Data
    • Events
      • RPN Events
      • RPN Livestreams/Webinars
      • Industry Events
      • Past Events
      • ITEC Library
      • International Silicone Conference Library
    • Advertise
    • DIGITAL EDITION