Pirelli Named Title Sponsor Of The World Challenge Championships

TOPEKA, March 16, 2011: WC Vision today confirmed a growing partnership with Pirelli Tire North America and announced that the premier tire brand has signed a five-year deal for title sponsor of the World Challenge Championships. The new title for the series is the Pirelli World Challenge Championships.

The five-year agreement is a fully integrated sponsorship program and includes race entitlements and in-market activation. Pirelli is the world leader in the high performance tire sector in both original equipment and the aftermarket and operates in 160 countries and is serviced by 20 factories in 14 countries around the world and the partnership aims to grow the Pirelli brand in the North American market. In October 2010, WC Vision announced that Pirelli would be the series’ exclusive tire supplier with all three World Challenge classes running on the P Zero Racing Slick and the P Zero Rain Tire.

“Pirelli Tire North America is proud to be the exclusive tire supplier for the Pirelli World Challenge Championships,” said Tom Gravalos, Pirelli Tire North America’s VP of Marketing, Motorsports and Original Equipment. “This is a highly competitive racing series, and it will help drivers, teams and fans develop a strong, positive relationship with the Pirelli brand. This is an exciting time for Pirelli Motorsport, as we continue our strategy of growth and development and are now partnered with some of the most important race series and world championships in the world, including Formula One, GP2, GP3, the VW TDI Cup, Ferrari Challenge, Lamborghini Super Trofeo, Pirelli Drivers Cup USA and now, World Challenge. Pirelli has a strong appetite for GT racing, and we value partners that seek to improve competition in the sport.”

“Our colleagues at Pirelli have been very professional to work with in coming to the agreement on the partnership,” said Scott Bove, Director of Operations, WC Vision, the managing arm of World Challenge. “It’s a testament to their entire organization and helps one understand how they are a premium tire manufacturer. They care about their customer. Our competitors have been asking for a racing slick for years and Pirelli is able to do this. We expect the tire will be yet another reason that new teams will consider competing in the Sports Car Wars of World Challenge.”

Entering its 22nd consecutive season, the Pirelli World Challenge is North America's top production car-based racing championship. Divided into three separate categories (World Challenge GT, World Challenge GTS, and World Challenge Touring Car), each race features a thrilling standing start, adrenaline filled door-to-door action and world-class drivers. The Pirelli World Challenge features cars from the world's most popular manufacturers – race-prepped versions of the cars driven on the streets. Sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing, the series races at North America's premier road and temporary street courses.

The 12-race 2011 Pirelli World Challenge GT, GTS and Touring Car Championships campaign begins with Rounds 1 and 2 on the Streets of St. Petersburg, March 25-27. All races will be broadcast on VERSUS.

For more information about the Pirelli World Challenge, visit www.world-challenge.com.