Pirelli: White star in new splendor
STELLA BIANCIA In Italian, Stella Bianca means white star. But in the world of tires, it is synonymous with Pirelli and in particular with the golden age of motorsport. When the Formula 1 World Championship made its debut 70 years ago and Giuseppe Farina won the first race - this birthday was celebrated on the second weekend in August at the 70th [...]
When the Formula 1 World Championship debuted 70 years ago and Giuseppe Farina won the first race - this birthday was celebrated on the second weekend of August at the Silverstone 70th Anniversary Grand Prix - the tire on his Alfa Romeo was a Pirelli Stella Bianca. It was even marked with a small white star on the sidewall: a motif it shared with the road tires of the same name.
Return to the first place of success
Like Alfa Romeo, Pirelli tires dominated the early seasons of Formula 1 in those early years, also winning with Ferrari and Maserati and adding a profoundly Italian touch to the beginnings of the world's leading motorsport series. To this day, Alfa Romeo and Pirelli form the only combination that has existed since the beginning of Formula 1.
The Pirelli F1 slicks of the modern era are called P Zero. Cinturato is the name of the rain tires. 70 years after its first Formula 1 race in Silverstone, the famous name Stella Bianca returned to the "home of British motorsport".
Part of the Pirelli Collezione
The Stella Bianca was not only one of the stars of Silverstone, it is also still very present on the road. Two years ago, a road-going version of the tire was reissued as part of the Pirelli Collezione, the product family of vintage tires.
They combine classic looks with modern technology. The Pirelli Collezione portfolio is constantly expanding and today equips a variety of classic cars, from post-war legends to modern classics from the 1990s.
From the same factory
These tires are designed to allow drivers of classic cars to enjoy their vehicles as much as the original owners once did when the cars were new. All Pirelli Collezione tires are produced in limited quantities, just like Pirelli's motorsport tires.
In fact, the latest Stella Bianca tires are manufactured in the same specialized factory as many of the tires destined for competition use. What sets the Stella Bianca apart: It is currently the only tire that Pirelli is producing again in traditional bias-ply construction after years of producing radial tires.
Over the course of the year, several new sizes will be launched on the market, making the Stella Bianca accessible to even more motorsport enthusiasts.
Centerpiece
Unlike in the 1950s, the top stars of Formula 1 did not drive the iconic Stella Bianca this time, but only admired it from afar. But they will still appreciate the rich history that has made their sport the truly global spectacle it is today. With Pirelli at its heart, right from the start.
