P Zero Yellow Experimental Tyre Makes Its Debut in Abu Dhabi
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P ZERO YELLOW EXPERIMENTAL TYRE MAKES ITS DEBUT IN ABU DHABI Abu Dhabi, November 11th, 2011 – As part of its preparation for the 2012 season, Pirelli gave a new experimental version of the P Zero Yellow soft tyre its debut today, during the two free practice sessions at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. McLaren‟s Lewis Hamilton has emerged quickest with a time of 1m39.586s, set during the second session using Pirelli‟s current P Zero Yellow soft tyre. Hamilton‟s time is already close to last year‟s pole position: 1m39.394s set by Sebastian Vettel. Each driver was allocated an extra two sets of the experimental soft compound tyre, for today only. This new tyre, which sits in between the current soft and the current supersoft, set fastest time in free practice one with a benchmark of 1m40.263s thanks to McLaren driver Jenson Button. McLaren was on top for most of the session and seemed set for a one-two before Red Bull Racing‟s Mark Webber demoted Hamilton to third: all driving on the experimental tyre. This tyre was used during both sessions, meaning that the teams had a total of five sets available throughout the day. The experimental tyres will be returned tonight, with the usual tyre allocation for Saturday and Sunday applicable from now on. The teams concentrated on the two tyre compounds that will be used for the race for the last hour of free practice two on varying fuel loads, with the McLarens of Jenson Button and then Lewis Hamilton going fastest on the conventional P Zero Yellow. The P Zero Yellow soft tyre is expected to last for around 20 laps at the race, with the P Zero White medium tyre lasting for around 30 laps – meaning that most drivers should stop two or three times on Sunday. There is around 1.2 seconds per lap difference in pace between the soft and the medium tyres so far, with soft-soft-medium expected to be the default strategy. With the Abu Dhabi race starting at dusk and finishing at nightfall, the two free practice sessions were held later than their usual times, allowing the drivers to accustom themselves to the changing light and track conditions. Pirelli‟s motorsport director Paul Hembery said: “It‟s too early to draw any detailed conclusions about the experimental soft tyre, but we‟ve gathered plenty of information and already we have seen that it‟s got some very good speed, comfortably surpassing the times set in free practice last year. This new tyre is designed to have a better thermal resistance towards blistering, which should lead to greater durability and a smaller performance gap between the compounds, but with similar pace. Tonight we will begin to analyse some of the data although there is still plenty of work ahead before we have the definitive compounds fixed for next year. In the meantime we‟re looking forward to the race on Sunday: we‟ve seen today that both Ferrari and especially McLaren have very consistent pace on the soft tyre.” THE ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX FROM A TYRE POINT OF VIEW Abu Dhabi, November 10th, 2011 – The penultimate round of this year’s Formula One World Championship at the Yas Marina circuit presents its own unique challenges for the tyres. The 55-lap race takes in a total of 305.355 kilometres from dusk to nightfall, meaning that track temperatures tend to fall and then stabilise. This affects tyre performance in terms of pace, degradation and wear, making it different at the end of the race compared to the beginning. Here are some of the key points of the Abu Dhabi circuit from a tyre point of view. THE TRACK: The first corner is the start of a flowing sequence of bends. The car is subjected to sideways accelerations of 4G, with the outside tyres guaranteeing grip along with the best possible roadholding at speeds of 250kph. Throughout the longest straight of the lap, the structure of the tyre is challenged due to the high speeds reached with full throttle maintained for around 15 seconds. The aerodynamic downforce generates a loading of 800 kilograms, entirely absorbed by the tyre structure, which at the same time has to soak up any bumps and imperfections in the track surface. For Turn 11, the cars go from 300kph to 90kph in 110 metres. This is a 5G deceleration, taking the drivers into a slow series of esses that have to be driven with maximum precision. The final section of the lap requires an optimal balance from the car. A sequence of curves progressively heats up the tread pattern. The tyre temperature can reach 130° degrees centigrade while still ensuring the highest possible levels of grip, durability and car control that are vital for Abu Dhabi’s asphalt. TESTING PROTOTYPE TYRES: Once more, the Abu Dhabi circuit will be an important proving ground for Pirelli, with the track providing an arena for the Italian company’s latest range of development tyres: just as it did last year when the P Zero tyres were seen on a contemporary Formula One car for the first time. While the season has been taking place, Pirelli has also carried out 10 days of private testing with test driver Lucas di Grassi and a Toyota TF109 that has been modified to reflect the latest technical and aerodynamic regulations. The tests took place over four circuits – Istanbul, Barcelona, Jerez and Monza – covering on average 700 kilometres per day. The initial results of that work will be seen on Friday and during the young driver test. The tests have concentrated on refining the latest evolutions of the P Zero tyres that will be seen next year, using a combination of computer simulation, driver feedback, and data analysis. A new tyre is first virtually simulated using computer-based mathematical models by the research and development division in Milan, before a series of bespoke physical prototype tyres are made in the Pirelli factory at Izmit in Turkey. Before these prototypes are put onto a car, they are subjected to a number of machine tests in Milan that push the tyre’s limits way beyond the usual parameters. Only then does it take to the track. During a tyre test, the test driver tries out each new tyre for a set number of laps but in between runs he will constantly return to a reference tyre: in this case, the existing compounds that have been used this year. This means that Pirelli’s engineers have a consistent base from which to work, and they will also know if performance has been influenced by any other factors apart from the new tyre that is being assessed. As well as the raw data that is collected during a tyre test – such as temperature, loading and lap times – the driver gives his subjective impression of the tyre, taking into account warm-up time, driveability and handling precision. More often than not, the driver’s impressions are backed up by the data, and often he has an idea as to how the tyre could be improved further. Using the conclusions reached, the engineers can adjust the compound and structure to achieved the desired results – which can then be tested and verified again with a different prototype tyre. With just 10 days of official testing allowed prior to the start of the 2012 season, the work carried out by di Grassi and the test team is vitally important. Pirelli’s motorsport director Paul Hembery commented: “The pace of development in Formula One is phenomenal and so it did not take the teams very long at all to fully understand our tyres and make the most of their potential. This means that in a way we have had to constantly reinvent ourselves in order to keep on pushing the envelope and next year’s tyres represent the next step, with yet more performance. The feedback and information that we obtain over the Abu Dhabi weekend and test will be very important as we continue to develop our 2012 range of P Zero tyres.” *** Follow us on Twitter @ Pirelli_Media or Facebook on www.facebook.com/Pirelli. Please also visit the Pirelli F1 blog: www.pirellif1blog.com For further information please contact Alexandra Schieren +33 607 03 69 03 [email protected] Anthony Peacock +44 7765 896 930 [email protected] ** Francescopaolo Tarallo +39 334 684 4307 [email protected] (Head of Product and Motorsport Communications) Pirelli Tyre Press Office Ph. +39 02 6442 4270 – [email protected] – www.pirelli.com PIRELLI FACT OF THE DAY: The centrepiece of „Ferrari World‟ – the theme park located next to the Yas Marina circuit – contains a rollercoaster that is designed to simulate the acceleration of a Formula One car. The „Formula Rossa‟ ride accelerates from 0-240kph in less than five seconds and 0-100kph in less than two seconds. Passengers are subjected to a force of around 1.7G, which is slightly more than a driver will experience at the start of a grand prix, making it the world‟s fastest rollercoaster. *** Pirelli Tyre Press Office Ph. +39 02 6442 4270 – [email protected] – www.pirelli.com 2011 ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX BACK TO WHERE IT ALL BEGAN FOR PIRELLI AND THE P ZERO COMPOUNDS WHAT’S THE STORY? Milan, November 7th, 2011 – The Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi is a significant venue for Pirelli as it is where the teams got to try out the P Zero compounds for the very first time, at a test following last year’s grand prix.