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WHAT’S THE STORY?
The Formula One teams and Pirelli take a step into the unknown this
weekend with the inaugural United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the
Americas: a newly-built track that has never been raced on before.
The Italian firm is bringing the P Zero Silver hard and P Zero White medium
tyres: a reasonably conservative compound choice for a circuit where there
are still a number of unknown factors when it comes to tyre performance. The
teams will be given an extra set of the hard tyre for Friday’s two free
practice sessions in order to help them learn the all-new track.
One sure thing is that the Texas circuit will be fast and challenging, with
warm ambient temperatures adding to the mechanical demands placed on the
tyres. The 5.515-kilometre track features varying elevations that alternate
slower and more technical sections with other areas that are very quick.
Initial information suggests that the track surface will be quite smooth.
The opening sector of the lap is particularly demanding, with a uniquely
profiled hairpin turn one and then a rapid sequence of direction changes
from turns four through to six: reminiscent of Silverstone or Spa. This puts
a lot of energy through the tyre structure, particularly the outside tyre
that has to withstand the majority of the cornering forces. Traction is also
a vital aspect of tyre performance in America in order to find optimal grip
coming out of the slower corners.
With no data from previous years to fall back on, Pirelli has used advanced
simulation technology to predict how the tyres might behave on the Austin
circuit. The teams will also use similar data when it comes to formulating
some initial ideas about race strategy; however the information gained from
free practice will be even more vital than usual. Teams will be aiming to
collect as much tyre data as possible on both full and empty fuel tanks and
the extra set of hard tyres should enable them to maximise their running.
Pirelli’s motorsport director says:
Paul Hembery: “Austin is one of just three new tracks for us in Formula One
competition this year, alongside Bahrain – which we’ve tested at previously
– and Hockenheim, where we previously raced in GP3. So in many ways America
will be the biggest challenge for us of the year, but stepping into the
unknown is a situation that we are used to: last season the majority of
tracks were completely new to us. We’ve chosen the hard and the medium
compounds as we think it will be quite a demanding track, based on the
asphalt samples and simulation data we have gathered. Naturally we’ve leaned
towards a slightly more conservative choice in order to cover every
possibility at a brand new circuit, but the tyre choice in Abu Dhabi was
also conservative and yet we saw one of the most exciting races of the year.
We’re all absolutely delighted to be returning to America with Formula One:
it’s a crucial market for us as well as being the home of many of the most
enthusiastic fans out there. We’ve felt a huge buzz about this race, and
with the championship so finely poised it couldn’t come at a better time.”
The men behind the steering wheel say:
Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing): “I was in Austin after the Brazilian Grand
Prix in 2006, catching up with some friends over there and I remember it as
a really cool city. I remember there were lots of great options for food,
everyone was pretty laid back and didn’t take themselves too seriously: it
was nice to just have that sort of relaxed atmosphere in the city. I’ve
heard from my guys out there that everyone is pumped and excited about the
race being on. Formula One traditionally has been very dominant in Europe so
it’s good that we are going back to the States. We know there’s a huge
number of motorsport fans in America, as you have big categories like NASCAR
and Indycar; even some of the dirt track stuff is huge. The track looks
pretty quick: it’s got some very fast changes of directions, left-rights and
fifth/sixth gear stuff, which is not hanging around for us. It looks like
they’ve done a really good job and there are lots of undulations, which is
important. With a new track there are always things we don’t really know
until we get there, such as the subtleties of the cambers of the corners,
which we will find out about on Friday.”
Pirelli’s test driver says:
Jaime Alguersuari: “I don’t know anything at all about the Circuit of the
Americas – I’ve only ever seen some photographs and videos – but it looks
like a great track and a lot of fun to drive. It’s clear that all the teams
have good knowledge of all the Pirelli tyres now, so I would say that
understandably the hard and the medium tyres are quite a conservative
choice, but of course this depends on many other factors such as the
macro-abrasion of the surface in Austin. We could be looking at a one-stop
race although there are other outside circumstances that can always affect
this, such as safety cars and the weather. A new track often shakes things
up a bit, so I’m sure it will be interesting.”
Technical tyre notes:
As Austin is a brand new circuit, the surface is likely to be ‘green’ and
slippery, with a high degree of track evolution over the weekend. A totally
new track often has a thin film of greasy oil on the surface, which is
released by the asphalt as it settles into place. The race length will be 56
laps.
Turn 11 is also particularly demanding in Texas as the driver starts braking
heavily with the car already turning, creating an uneven distribution of
forces across the tyres. Good grip from the compound is essential for an
effective turn-in.
The cars are likely to run with low gearing and medium downforce, with the
set-up not expected to be dissimilar to that of Istanbul Park in Turkey.
The weather can be uncertain in Texas at this time of year, with a 31%
chance of rain on any given day on average. The month of November is
characterised by rapidly falling daily high temperatures, with daily highs
decreasing from 25°C to 19°C over the course of the month, exceeding 29°C or
dropping below 13°C only one day in 10.
Pirelli in the United States:
America is a key market for Pirelli, where the full range of P Zero tyres is
sold for Ultra High Performance vehicles, as well as a unique P4, P6 and
Cinturato P7 ‘Four Seasons’ range for yearround motoring. Pirelli also sells
its complete line-up of premium winter tyres in the United States: Winter
Sottozero, Winter Carving and Winter Snowcontrol.
Pirelli’s American headquarters is located in Rome, Georgia – which also
houses a Research and Development facility along with a factory that uses
the patented MIRS (Modular Integrated Robotised System) process. However,
90% of Pirelli tyres sold in the United States are actually made in Latin
America.
The Georgia plant produces approximately 400,000 tyres per year. By 2015,
Pirelli’s total production in the American continent is expected to rise to
3.9 million tyres. The tyre market in America is growing by an average 2.1%
per year.
Pirelli hosts the GP Challenge game in America: a hugely popular online
fantasy Formula One game where participants have to predict race results,
fastest laps and quickest pit stops to win some big prizes. Among the expert
predictors on Pirelli’s panel is Bruce Knox, executive vice president of the
Circuit of the Americas.
Other news from Pirelli:
At a recent two-day GP2 test in Barcelona, Luca Filippi topped the times for
Coloni using Pirelli tyres. At the Estoril GP3 test that followed it, also
exclusively equipped by Pirelli, David Fumanelli was quickest for MW Arden.
The final round of the Pirelli-backed WRC Academy, the Rally of Spain, was
won by local man Jose Saurez in a Ford Fiesta R2. Suarez used both Pirelli’s
gravel and asphalt rally tyres on the mixedsurface event.
From 1 November, the new European tyre label became law throughout the EU.
All new tyres sold now have to carry a label that gives consumers
independent information on tyre performance and safety. Pirelli’s Cinturato
P7 Blue (inspired by the Formula One wet weather tyre) is the first tyre on
the market to score a top ‘AA’ rating on the European tyre label.
Pirelli recently celebrated its 140th birthday, with the Italian tyre
company being founded in 1872. To mark the occasion, Pirelli’s chairman and
CEO, Marco Tronchetti Provera, was received by the President of the Italian
Republic, Giorgio Napolitano. Giovan Battista Pirelli started the company
when he was only 24 years old.
Pirelli’s P Zero fashion range has launched the ‘paddock’ sneaker, inspired
by Formula One. This latest product features a grippy sole with a grey and
blue suede exterior, reminiscent of a racing shoe. Finishing it all off is
the famous ‘long P’ Pirelli logo, in the style of an overall patch. |
