Pirelli, WC Vision Extend Title Sponsorship, Tire Contract

Pirelli Tire North America and WC Vision announced today a five-year extension to the title and official tire partnership for the World Challenge Championships. The extension of the partnership between the premier tire brand and the top production car-based racing series will run through the 2018 season.

Back in October 2010, Pirelli became the series’ exclusive tire supplier with all World Challenge classes running on the P Zero Racing Slick and the P Zero Rain Tire. Then on March 16, 2011, a growing partnership was formed with the announcement of the title sponsorship and a new title for the series, the Pirelli World Challenge Championships.

“The five-year extension communicates the strong bond between our two brands,” said Scott Bove, President and CEO, WC Vision. “At the heart of that bond is the P Zero slick and rain tire. Our teams and drivers are unanimous in their love for the P Zero as it gives them the foundation to run full out at 100% each and every race. Pirelli is a world-leading brand and we are proud to have our series titled the Pirelli World Challenge.”

The five-year extension continues a fully integrated sponsorship program that includes in-market activation, and multi-platform, cross-promotional efforts. 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.

The relationship with World Challenge is a perfect fit for the tire manufacturer as the series’ races are a proverbial candy store for automotive enthusiasts, featured five classes of competition providing a competitive slot for nearly every production-based sports car and sports sedan available.

“At Pirelli Tire, our passion for racing and motorsports is absolute, it’s an integral part of our DNA,” said Rafael Navarro, V.P. Communications, Media Relations & Motorsports, Pirelli Tire North America. “Our partnership with World Challenge is a natural fit because that absolute passion is shared by WC Vision and the manufacturers, teams and drivers that compete in the series.

“We look forward to celebrating the series’ 25th anniversary and continuing our marketing efforts to extend the reach and exposure of what is an amazing racing series.”

The series’ upcoming 2014 25th anniversary season will feature a continued growth in car counts, an increase in event weekends, NBC Sports Network and live stream coverage of races and FIA GT3 cars running FIA approved aero packages including the Ferrari 458 Italia, Porsche 911 GT3 R, Audi R8 LMS ultra, and the Lamborghini Gallardo FL2 GT3.