Pirelli, which recently tested its prototype Formula One tires for the first time, is supplying the inaugural GP3 Series with “control rubber” this year, putting the emphasis firmly on driving talent. With 30 identical 280-horsepower cars on the GP3 grid, all the young drivers get the same chance to impress this weekend in front of Grand Prix crowds at Spa-Francorchamps, a Belgian resort nestled in the foothills of the Ardennes.
Along with sustained high speeds, one of the biggest challenges posed by the Spa course is variable weather. Sometimes it can be raining on one part of the circuit while another portion of the track is completely dry. There is a reasonable chance that the drivers will get to use Pirelli’s wet weather tires at some point during the weekend, which so far have only seen competitive action in Hockenheim. During each round of the GP3 Series, participants are allocated three sets of P Zero dry weather tires and two sets of wet weather tires.
For the complex demands of the Spa circuit – situated an hour down the road from Trier in Germany, where Pirelli was competing in the World Rally Championship last weekend – the medium compound tire is getting the nod. It will also be used for the next and final race on the GP3 calendar in Monza next month.
The 13-inch tire, which made its debut in the first round of this year’s GP3 Series in Barcelona, was chosen for its adaptability regarding the wide range of conditions likely to be encountered in Belgium. While it is rare to have a Belgian Grand Prix weekend with no rain, warm temperatures in August are equally possible.
According to Mario Isola, Pirelli’s racing manager, “finding the right tire for Spa was a question of identifying the best compromise. We are expecting rain at some point, so there is a good chance that we will use the wet tires for at least one of the sessions. Equally, if it is warm, the soft compound tire may not be ideal for high temperatures.”
The medium tire is well-suited to the characteristics of the Spa site, which include high speeds and considerable loads on the tires, although the surface is not especially aggressive, he notes. “We’re entering the closing stages of the championship now, with just four races remaining. Naturally, we can expect all the drivers and teams to be trying their hardest to improve their positions during this crucial period. Our aim is to give them a stable and competitive tire to help them do this,” Isola says.
The new GP3 Series has been designed as a feeder series to GP2, which will also be supplied by Pirelli next year.
The Spa-Francorchamps festivities begin Aug. 27.
For more information, visit www.us.pirelli.com.
