Racers competing in this weekend’s Rally de Portugal are expected to encounter a rough route, according to Pirelli engineer Matteo Braga, who says the onus is firmly on the pilots to preserve their Scorpion tires.
A mixture of medium-fast open roads plus narrow and technical sections, the gravel course is characterized by an abrasive surface that can lead to increased tire wear, particularly in the high ambient temperatures being forecast for the duration of the rally.
“We saw in Portugal last year that some drivers would complete a stage with 40 per cent more wear than other drivers, even though the tire is the same for all and they were not the fastest,” Braga reports. “Like Pirelli’s road car tires, the WRC (World Rally Championship-specified) tire is designed to be very durable while maintaining a strong level of performance,” he explains.
“On hard and abrasive roads we have to expect significant tire wear and some damage to the tread pattern,” adds Braga, “but it really does depend how the drivers use the tires.”
Of the 75 competitors entered in the event, 71 will be riding on Pirelli rubber. Puncture risk is not as high as on some gravel rallies, although Braga says there could be some instances of deflations being caused by drivers damaging wheel rims on rocks.
“Conditions look as if they will be hot and dry and that will be tough for the tires,” says racer Mikko Hirvonen. “On the second pass, once the loose stones have been swept away the grip will be good, but abrasive, so we’ll have to manage our tires well.”
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