Tyre Sponsorship

[Maui J.]

Ok, I’ve been thinking about the whole Daniel Carlsson thing about running out of money and unable to complete his original programme. The same applies to Gigi Galli as well with the loss of a major sponsor.

So who is out there with the Big $$$ able to put a decent budget forward? The answer is the tyre companies. With M1 and M2 teams having to shod Pirelli from 2008 here’s a chance for other rally tyre manufacturers to showcase their brand by funding a privateer outside of M1 & M2.
We have already seen examples of this with Gigi in the Pirelli badged 307 last year.
To me this car really stood out as far as branding was concerned.

At the moment, IMO the BF Goodrich shod WRCars don’t really showcase the brand to its full potential. We the rally enthusiast know what they are using but does Joe Public? A small BF Goodrich sticker on each corner of the car almost disappears at race pace. A fully dedicated livery on the side of the car is much more visible (like the Gigi 307).

So for those drivers sitting on the sideline here is an oppuntity for some real sponsorship money.

Apart from Michelin/BF Goodrich and Pirelli I can think of 7 additional companies making rally tyres (Dunlop, Silverstone, Yokohama, Falken, MRF, Hankook, Kumho). Sure I know a lot of you will rubbish some of these brands and they may struggle against the established brands but ‘beggars can’t be choosers’.

In the APRC Fast Jussi and Taguchi drive for the MRF Tyre team out of India. MRF are showing they want to promote their brand to a bigger audience, so maybe the WRC is the next step. Also Neil McShea is running Kumho in the PWRC, another company with a potential to step up.

I remember in the late 90s here in the NZ there seems to be a lot of cars with fully dedicated livery from Falken. Former NZ Champ Reece Jones approached the parent company and got enough money from to take his car (Group N Evo) to a handful of European WRC events. If an unknown from here can do it surely a big name driver has such a better chance.

Anyway just a thought, but hopefully we may see a fully liveried Yokohama 307 or a Hankook Focus in next years champs.

[Maui J.]

Michelin were so f***** off at the FIA for going down the Pirelli road for the WRCars from 2008 onwards well this is a way to shove it back right back at them.

In 2008 Citroen run 3 cars, 2 dedicated to the M1 with Pirellis of course but the third ’privateer’ car shod with Michelin/BF Goodrich fully livered up with branding and driven by….......Seb Loeb. Not that Citroen would go for that but it would shake a few rattles at the FIA

[ZequeArgentina]

That last idea could really shaken things up!!!
They will surely find a way to ban Seb/Michelin, probably entry could be rejected.

[pentti]

Very good point but next year only Pirelli allowed. Also like Kumho is the fastest tyre there but even if they decide to enter WRC, it is difficult.

[Maui J.]

Very good point but next year only Pirelli allowed.

As I understand that's only for M1 & M2 teams.
A privateer outside of these teams can run a WRCar with any brand of tyre. Correct?

[DonJippo]

As I understand that's only for M1 & M2 teams.
A privateer outside of these teams can run a WRCar with any brand of tyre. Correct?

According to this it's all with four-wheel drive rallycar.

Pirelli has won the tender to be the official tyre supplier to the 2008, 2009 and 2010 FIA World Rally Championships. It will now enter into a formal contract to supply tyres in all events of the Championship to all competitors with a four-wheel drive rally car (as defined in the International Sporting Code).

http://www.fia.com/mediacentre/Press...270207-01.html

[Glee]

Quote:
Pirelli has won the tender to be the official tyre supplier to the 2008, 2009 and 2010 FIA World Rally Championships. It will now enter into a formal contract to supply tyres in all events of the Championship to all competitors with a four-wheel drive rally car (as defined in the International Sporting Code).

Darn....

Henning and Expert have showed how sponsorship should bee done: Instead of 100 different small stickers, a complete branding of the car.

[MHjerpe]

Who get all the money Pirelli is putting in for be the "only" tire brand...
Should't be better if the money went via the drivers and the teams insted..
Love your ideas Maui..

[jonkka]

Henning and Expert have showed how sponsorship should bee done: Instead of 100 different small stickers, a complete branding of the car.

True but which is easier, get 100mil from one company or get one mil from 100 companies? Hence the bumper-sticker cars...

[General Prim]

And what about a BF Goodrich sponsored car driven by Seb and with Pirelli tyres and little stickers?