Pirelli takes to the track
By Courtesy of Pirelli
February 24 2017
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Pirelli
takes to the track |
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Pirelli will
bring more than 3500 tyres to Barcelona for the first eight days of testing
with the latest-generation 2017 cars (from February 27-March 2, then again
from March 7-10).
Last year, Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari carried out a series of tests with
mule cars from August to November: 2015 chassis that had been modified to
simulate the increased downforce levels of the 2017 technical regulations.
The other teams had full access to the data generated by the mule car tests,
but for them the tests in Spain will be a very first taste of the new wider
2017 tyres. At the front, the tyres grow from 245mm to 305mm in width: at
the back, they grow from 325mm to 405mm. The diameter of the wheel rims
remains unchanged at 13 inches.
WET TEST. The forthcoming tests also include one day on a wet track,
to focus on the 2017 intermediate and full wet tyres, for which it has only
been possible to undertake limited testing so far. The date for this test is
scheduled to be March 2: the final day of the first session. However, this
could be revised (following a meeting with the teams) if one of the previous
three days looks set to be rainy.
COMPOUNDS AVAILABLE. All the compounds will be taken to Barcelona,
including the intermediates and full wets. Every compound is brand new for
this year, with entirely new constructions as well. The objective for all
these tyres, shared with the FIA and the teams, is to deliver tyres with a
higher level of performance together with lower degradation, allowing the
drivers to push hard during every phase of the race.
HOW MANY COMPOUNDS AND WHICH ONES? There will be 810 sets of 2017
tyres in total requested by the teams in Barcelona. This is how the
allocation is divided by compound:
Hard 23 sets
Medium 263
Soft 287
Supersoft 74
Ultrasoft 51
Intermediate 67
Wet 45
BACKUP OPTIONS. The tests in Spain will also allow backup compounds
to be tested. These are tyres with 2016 compounds, which Pirelli has made
available for use if needed, in case the real loads and performance turn out
to be lower than those theoretically anticipated. The teams have requested
70 sets of these backup tyres to test.
PIRELLI AS TITLE SPONSOR. The first steps of Formula 1’s new look at
Montmeló also provides a perfect opportunity to announce that Pirelli will
be title sponsor of the Spanish Grand Prix from May 12-14. This is the first
of three grands prix where Pirelli will be title sponsor, followed by
Hungary in late July and Belgium in late August. |
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