Tyre maker Pirelli, the exclusive supplier of Formula 1 tyres, has started producing racing car tyres for the GP2 Series at its factory in Slatina, Romania. This is now one of only three Pirelli factories in the world that produces special tyres for motor sport, after Turkey, where it produces Formula 1 tyres, and Brazil, for GP2 and GT tyres.

The GP2 Series is a motor racing competition that acts as a feeder event for Formula 1 racing. Many successful Formula 1 drivers graduated from the GP2 Series, which also uses open wheel, Formula 1 style racing cars.

Pirelli also produces GT series tyres at Slatina. The GT Sprint series tyres are used for top sports cars, such as Audi, Jaguar, McLaren, Aston Martin, Corvette, BMW and Porsche.

It is something of coup for Romanian engineering and manufacturing, as the competition tyres are extremely hi-tech. “Race tyres and road tyres are - at best - distant cousins,” according to the official Formula 1 website.

Pirelli will supply over 720,000 tires for all motorsport competitions this year.

editor@romania-insider.com