Pirelli will look to end the British Rally Championship season on a high this week at an iconic motorsport location: the Isle of Man.
In a competitive revival season for the BRC, Pirelli’s drivers have experienced all the ups and downs of rallying, but have achieved fantastic victories on the Circuit of Ireland and Pirelli Carlisle Rally.
Rally Isle of Man offers a final chance of silverware, but its asphalt roads provide a significant test and have attracted a top-quality field, so whichever crews are stood on the podium at the finish will certainly have earned their place.
The Isle of Man is best known in sporting terms for its world-famous TT motorcycle races, but there is a great history of four-wheel competition too. Drivers have around the world have come to take on the Manx Rally (as it used to be known) in the past, with Finns Henri Toivanen and Ari Vatanen among a select group that have succeeded, together with home-grown Pirelli World Rally Champions Colin McRae and Richard Burns.
The island provides drivers with varied stages, ranging from high-speed and smooth open roads to technical, twisty and bumpy sections. Night stages and changeable weather conditions add extra challenges. Taking place over three days, 20 stages and 167 miles (270 kilometres) it is by far the longest event of the BRC season.
Double points will be awarded as a result, meaning the runner-up position in the championship is well and truly up for grabs between five different drivers, with three on Pirelli tyres.
Currently the best-placed of those is Jonny Greer, the Belfast-based Citroen DS3 R5 driver having twice claimed a fine second place on home roads this year, on the Circuit of Ireland and the Ulster Rally. Now he’ll hope for another top result on the island in the Irish Sea.
Fredrik Ahlin led the company’s charge – and the entire championship – earlier in the year, and although the Swede has failed to score since his Pirelli Carlisle Rally triumph, it is not for a lack of speed in his Ford Fiesta R5.
His CA1 Sport team-mate David Bogie has also deserved more and the Scotsman will look to build upon his Ulster podium in a brand new Skoda Fabia R5 fresh from the factory.
The Pirelli crews will have the full range of P Zero RK asphalt tyres available, in a number of different compounds to suit the conditions such as the RK7B medium and RKW7 rain tyre.
Matthew Corby, Pirelli UK Motorsport Operations Manager, said: “The British Rally Championship has provided some great challenges in its revival season and they don’t come much bigger than the Isle of Man. We’re optimistic that our drivers can end the year on a high after the competitiveness they have shown this season, even though they will be up against strong opposition. They will be able to rely on our P Zero RK asphalt tyres in all conditions, which can certainly be changeable on the Manx.”
