Pirelli: Arctic endurance test for racing tires 🎥
A LOOK BEHIND THE SCENE Pirelli has been the exclusive supplier of rally racing tires since 2021. Studded with tungsten spikes, they will allow deviant speeds at the Arctic Rally Finland, which is part of the WRC for the first time. Lots of snow, ice and cold await the drivers in Lapland. Thanks to the spikes, high speeds are possible. The second WRC round of the year is based on the Arctic Lapland [...]
A lot of snow, ice and cold awaits the drivers in Lapland. Thanks to the spikes, high speeds are possible.
The second WRC round of the year is based on the Arctic Lapland Rally, which is held every January as part of the Finnish championship and includes stages within the Arctic Circle around Rovaniemi. It runs from Friday to Sunday and replaces Rally Sweden, which was cancelled for 2021, as the WRC's only winter-only event.
Proven technology
As in previous years in Sweden, a single studded tire type is intended for use in ice and snow rallies at the WRC. Pirelli's Sottozero tire has a total of 384 tungsten studs, each protruding seven millimeters from the tread blocks.
The remaining piece of the studs is anchored in the tread during the vulcanization process and not inserted afterwards. This technology, used only by Pirelli, ensures the retention of the studs.
Specially designed for one side
The tread pattern of these tires is directional and asymmetrical. This means: they are specially designed to be used on either the left or right side of the car.
Terenzio Testoni, Rally Activity Manager: "The seven millimeter studs offer the best compromise between grip on ice and deep snow during the first loop and the grip of the studs during the repeated stages. The teams tested for a total of 15 days, using around 250 tires. We are pleased with the performance so far and the level of firmness of the fit of the studs in the tread."
Impressive numbers
Pirelli will transport around 1500 tires to Arctic Rally Finland and will be on site with 22 employees, including fitters and engineers. 350 tires are earmarked for the top class of WRC cars.
Each of the 13 WRC drivers can use up to 20 tires during the rally. In addition, there is a separate allocation of four tires each for the shakedown. In addition, Pirelli supplies 1150 tires for the other all-wheel-drive cars, including those in WRC 2 and WRC 3.
One type of tire for all tests
Unlike at the Rally Monte-Carlo, the drivers do not have to worry about tire selection because they only have one type of tire at their disposal. Nevertheless, the drivers have to think carefully about how they use their tires during the sequence of stages - especially because all of them are 20 kilometers or longer.
Since 1966, the "Arctic" has been one of the most famous rallies in Finland. WRC-experienced drivers often drove and won here.
Young guns aim for first WRC victory
The Arctic Rally Finland is a home race for Toyota driver Kalle Rovanperä. The 20-year-old already has experience of rallies in Lapland and won the race in January 2020 with the Yaris WRC.
In addition, 19-year-old Swede Oliver Solberg will make his WRC1 debut in a Hyundai i20 N WRC. Both youngsters grew up driving on snow and ice alongside their fathers, former WRC stars Harri Rovanperä and Petter Solberg.
