Pirelli to Introduce New GT3 Tire in 2020

Photo: Dirk Bogaerts/SRO

Pirelli will introduce a new GT3 tire next year, with the P Zero DHE replacing its current DHD2 compound in a number series that it supplies, including Blancpain GT World Challenge competition.

The tire’s introduction will be gradually rolled out worldwide over a two-year period, according to SRO founder and CEO Stephane Ratel.

The current DHD2 spec was initially brought to the Blancpain GT Series in Europe in 2018 and later introduced in all of the SRO Motorsports Group’s GT3 series globally.

“The introduction will be gradually implemented,” Ratel explained.

“We have no intention to introduce it in the course of the season, the idea is to implement it one series at a time, over the next two years, probably.”

The new tire will be presented to manufacturers at Circuit Paul Ricard on Nov. 28-29 to allow them to collect data and familiarize themselves with the new product.

Pirelli’s circuit technical manager Matteo Braga told Sportscar365 in July that the company would “do all the validation, outdoor, indoor, [and] have all the feedback from manufacturers” before presenting the product at the end of November.

“Everybody will be away until late November so that’s usually the timing to present before the end of the year and be ready to distribute at the beginning of the new year,” he explained.

Jake Kilshaw

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.