pirelli looks ahead to 2015 · 2011. 12. 30. · momentous year for the dub crew, who were...

December 2011 Pirelli Newsletter

December 2011Pirelli Newsletter2

hile much of the world economy has had a dire year, Pirelli posted strong results in all

areas and is looking towards the future with optimism.

The company aims for world leadership in the premium segment in 2015 and has new targets for 2012-2014 thanks to its innovative marketing, brand strength, new products, leading edge technology, optimization of production and efficient geographical location as drivers for growth. The launch of 18 products is planned within the car segment by 2015, taking this business unit to 57% of all sales generated from new projects.

During the three-year period of 2012-2014 the average annual growth in total revenues in the Consumer segment is estimated at 13% (10% excluding Russia). Also in this case, it will be the premium segment which will drive the other segments with growth in all regions,

CORPORATENEWS

his coming year will surely see important growth in the NAFTA

region for Pirelli & C. as it expands it infrastructure significantly with the opening of the Pirelli Mexico plant in February. Mexico’s membership in the NAFTA trading agreement, combined with its high-quality, competitive labor force, high growth rate and excellent initiatives to attract investments, make it an ideal manufacturing site.

The Guanajuato government has set up a “Puerto Interior” industrial park, with a NAFTA customs area, a railroad station for container traffic, offices and other facilities for companies interested in investing. There is a

Wboth in mature markets and in rapidly developing economies where there is a growing demand for premium products.

Pirelli is also looking to optimize its production capacity and geographical presence with ever newer plants (64% of premium car capacity will be allocated to new plants) located in countries with not only increasing demand but also favorable industrial costs.

The new on-going projects in Russia (car), Mexico (car), Argentina (truck) and the new plant to be opened in Indonesia (moto) are also included in this strategy. The moto business unit aims to consolidate its leadership position in the premium segment, especially in Europe, confirming its role as a technological innovator while maintaining high levels of profitability.

Between 2012-14 Pirelli will intensify

its environmental, social and economic sustainability plan, originally launched in 2011.

The main goals of the new plan are process and product innovation, both oriented to the reduction of consumption and of harmful impacts on the environment and the dissemination of the sustainability values of Pirelli along the entire value chain, from suppliers to final customers.

In production processes, Pirelli is committed to using systems that will deliver a 70% reduction in the specific drawing of water and a 15% reduction of specific CO2 emissions by 2015. In 2011, these values were already reduced by respectively 29% and 5%, compared with 2009.

The company management and sustainable development model will be at the center of the integration of the new production realities in Mexico, Russia and Indonesia.

forward glances:Pirelli looks ahead to 2015

Pirelli CEO and Chairman Marco Tronchetti Prov-erra presents forecasting plans in London.

university, training services and facilities, and the Léon airport is only 15 minutes from the site. All of these factors made Mexico a natural for Pirelli.

The new plant at Guanajuato produced its first tire in November 2011 but will be fully up and running next year. Expectations are that it will have a yearly production capacity of 5 million car tires by 2015. The plant will produce 100% premium tires.

“We’re looking forward to integrating the new operation in our network and to answering the logistical challenges that we will take on in expanding Pirelli’s footprint in the NAFTA region, said Matteo Battaini, CEO of

Pirelli NAFTA region.Having the Mexico plant

fully functional will greatly benefit Pirelli in terms of cost saving and Pirelli customers in terms of better service and shorter delivery times. Lastly, the

Employees stand next to the first two tires produced at the new Pirelli plant in Guanajuato, Mexico. Production is expected to hit 5 million tires by 2015.

creation of the plant will have added benefits for customers in Latin America because it frees up product to be shipped to that region where growth is expected to increase considerably to in the coming years.

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2012 set to be a banner yearwith opening of mexico plant2012 set to be a banner yearwith opening of mexico plant


P ZERO SILVER | fORMULA 1 TECH FOR THE STREET

P Zero Silver is the first road tire derived directly from Formula 1 tires, sharing not only the name and aesthetic references, but above all the planning models, material technology and production processes. Pirelli’s use of the modeling and relative data gathered Gran Prix after Gran Prix allowed for a faster development of the new tire and reduced the time required to develop a tire from the ground up from the standard two years to only a few months.

The P Zero Silver shares its modeling process with Pirelli’s Formula 1 P Zero line. The phase in which the tire is imagined and developed with the aid of sophisticated mathematical models, the technology of development and production of compounds, and the construction process are shared with the most elite racing tire program in the world. In fact, the new tire will be produced at the Settimo Torinese industrial and technology hub, the Pirelli group’s most advanced research and manufacturing plant in the world, where all the compounds for Formula 1 are currently produced, then assembled at the company’s motorsports hub in Izmit, Turkey.

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CORPORATENEWS

1 Pirelli Tire North America’s new President and CEO Matteo Battaini was on site at SEMA to unveil the new P Zero Silver tire.2 The P Zero Silve is Pirelli’s first limited edition ultra-high-performance replacement tire with solid roots in Pirelli’s successful F1 program.3 Tom Gravalos, PTNA’s VP of Marketing, Mo-torsport and Original Equipment presents details of the tire.4 Journalists eagerly crowd the Pirelli booth for a first glance at the new P Zero Silver tire.

The P Zero Silver will be available starting Q1 2012 with a full range available in eight sizes.

irelli introduced its new formula 1-derived street tire – the p zero silver –

during a press conference at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas, Nevada in November. Pirelli Tire North America’s (PTNA) new President and CEO Matteo Battaini unveiled the new tire to a crowd numbering in the hundreds at the Pirelli booth on the SEMA Show floor. Battaini was joined by PTNA’s VP of Marketing, Motorsport and Original Equipment Tom Gravalos, who was on hand to explain some of the finer points of the product.

“The return of Pirelli to Formula One, for which the Italian group is exclusive supplier for the 3-year period 2011-2013, has again placed the company at the center of attention for sports lovers and driving enthusiasts around the world,” said Gravalos. “Pirelli has brought its experience as the reference tire for the UHP market together with its state-of-the-art F1 motorsports technology to deliver a multi-compound UHP replacement tire with increased longevity for the performance-minded enthusiast seeking UHP capabilities with matchless durability for their own sports sedans and coupes.”

P Zero Silver is an ultra-high-performance replacement tire with solid roots in Pirelli’s successful Formula 1 program that will allow the company to exploit its new consumer segments while leveraging F1 technology. The Silver is manufactured utilizing Pirelli’s patented MIRS (Modular Integrated Robotized Technology) process, helping Pirelli deliver high performance, high quality and high flexibility to its customers. MIRS allows Pirelli to produce any of its range of tires (traditional and MIRS processes) quickly and with smaller-batch possibilities.

P Zero Silver is the first limited edition tire specifically developed for premium sport sedan and coupe drivers requiring an extended durability UHP tire, and offers the typical characteristics of Pirelli’s P Zero Collection: it is a sporty enthusiast tire that offers great road feel and superior performance along with Pirelli safety features such as excellent wet braking and anti-aquaplaning performance. In addition, all the compounds of P Zero Silver are Aromatic Oil Free, respecting the most restrictive regulations in terms of protection of the environment.

Sales of the P Zero Silver will start in Q1 2012, with full range available in 8 sizes for 19” and 20” rim diameters. Prices will be announced by January.

PP

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From the trackto the road

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Thousands of DUB fans and motor aficionados halted traffic in the halls of the entrance to the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino’s Rain nightclub the evening of November 2 as they waited to be admitted to the hottest party at SEMA – the 2011 Monster Energy DUB Expo Powered by Pirelli.

As expected, the tremendous turnout can be put down to DUB’s reputation not only as an authority on urban lifestyle motor trends but also as the producers of some of the industry’s most sought out events. With Snoop Dogg headlining, actor Kevin Hart hosting and a score of special presentations, this Pirelli-sponsored VIP party clearly was not an event to be missed.

By 9pm access to the club had slowed to a halt as Rain quickly reached capacity. Inside

CORPORATENEWS

Pirelli’s NAFTA region headquarters in Rome, Georgia recently hosted a large group of management executives from Pirelli’s workforce in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The 360 degree leadership program is being actively deployed globally throughout Pirelli and is currently working its way through the 8 regions that comprise the Pirelli Group.

The program is comprised of a series of evaluations that colleagues, reports, or supervisors to fill out prior to the session. These become the starting point of the participant’s evaluation and journey in the process. “This is an important time for many of the people invited to participate in the program as they are introduced to the Pirelli Leadership Model and can get an

Pirelli Is Nothing Without Its People

the venue, industry h e a v y w e i g h t s , models, buyers, media and fuel fiends enjoyed drinks and tunes and warmed up for the awards and the appearance of Snoop.

The night kicked off with tunes and dancers and at around 11pm DUB founder Myles Kovacs took to the stage to present the awards and address a crowd of DUB’s most avid supporters and longstanding industry partners.

Around 1am Snoop hit the stage, and did not disappoint with his rendition of all the classics. By ‘Gin and Juice’, the Doggfather had everyone in the venue singing and

standing on banquets, straining for a better view.

The event marked the culmination of a momentous year for the DUB crew, who were celebrating the enormously successful season of their MTV program the DUB Magazine Project, which is set for syndication in multiple languages and countries next year. In addition, DUB is rolling out many more exciting projects in 2012. Stay tuned to:www.dubmag.net for more information.

NAFTA President and CEO Matteo Battaini (second from left) addresses a group of executives in Rome, Georgia for Pirelli’s leadership training.

evaluation of where they stand in order to improve or focus on identified strengths moving forward”, says Michele Morris, Director of Human Resources USA. She continued, “This is our first wave of employees to begin the course as the newly formed

NAFTA team and it is exciting to see people coming together for the first time and starting new relationships which will benefit our business and collaboration into the future as we are a key region for growth in the Pirelli Group.”

During the three day opening course, participants were introduced to the Pirelli Leadership Model and reviewed peer feedback evaluations. Break-out groups were established to analyze strengths and weakness of individuals and their working environments in order to understand and define actions to improve. The individual groups would convene in plenary sessions throughout the day to present ideas and solutions to the common questions and issues presented. As the individual group sessions wound down, peer coaching sessions came into play as each person was addressed by his or her group as to their strengths and weaknesses so they could build an action plan to put in place and report on the effects and the next session in 2012.

DUBKeeps ThePartyMoving


EVENTSBig Time : Pirelli TIre North Americawins big, shows big at sema 2011

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“Best Performance Tire”. Over 3.4 million people participated in the survey this year, compared to 750,000 votes in 2010.

In addition to the eBay People’s Pick Award for Best Tuner Tire, Pirelli and its partners were also proud to receive numerous awards, – most notably an Excellence in Design Award from the Ford Motor Company for Pirelli Partner Mobsteel and their designed and tuned Ford F-650 “Hollow Point”.

For over a century, Pirelli Tires have remained Original Equipment on the world’s finest vehicles. No other tire company on the floor of the world’s premier showcase for automotive specialty products and trade equaled Pirelli’s heritage of technologically innovative products or its successes on and off the racetrack.

Pirelli captured the attention of the attendees at this year’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas with an array of striking and exclusive vehicles that only Pirelli could align, including the Lamborghini Aventador, Maserati GTS, the Ferrari 458 Mansory, the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, Jerry Magnuson’s Foose

Roadster and the Ducati Diavel.“We had a great show this year,”

said Pirelli Tire North America’s Vice President of Media Communications Rafael Navarro, III. “We told the story of the brand, our product portfolio and the new Pirelli P Zero Silver and set up significant business partnerships that will reap benefits for Pirelli stakeholders for years to come.

“We reinforced our position as the market leader for the tire category in this year’s show,” Navarro continued. ”We are also a leader in the global motorsport sector as tire supplier to series such as Formula 1, GP2, GP3 and the Pirelli World Challenge.”

irelli Tire North America rolled heavy at the 2011 Specialty Equipment

Market Show (SEMA) at the Las Vegas Convention Center in November, showcasing its updated P Zero family of tires, including the Formula 1 derived P Zero Silver - the world’s first Formula 1 derived tire for the street. If its bold new product launch and updated catalogue weren’t enough, automotive industry stakeholders were able to visit with Pirelli brand ambassadors the Pirelli Models, industry heavyweights Ken Block and Chip Foose as well as celebrities such as comedian Kevin Hart who were on hand to educate, communicate and entertain.

Pirelli closed the week with several awards, including the coveted eBay Motors People’s Pick 2011 award for “Best Performance Tire” in the “Tuner” segment.

Pirelli’s ultra-high and high performance products were voted number 1 by eBay’s online survey of the most popular automotive aftermarket brands. Pirelli once again claimed the top spot in the “Tuner” category, and was voted

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1 Chip Foose (left) and Ken Block (right) pose with Pirelli models.2 Comedian Kevin Hart was also on hand to sign autographs at SEMA.3 Vehicles at the Pirelli booth included a Ferrari 458 Mansory,, Lamborghini Aventador, Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 and more.

SwoonPirelli Calendar Gala 2 0 1 2


his TruSpeed/Privacy Star/EnTrust Porsche 911 GT3, GTS driver Paul Brown in his Lucas Oil/K&N Filter/Luminox Ford Mustang Boss 302S and in TC Lawson Aschenbach in his Compass 360 Racing Honda Civic Si.

“Pirelli Tire North America is proud to be the exclusive tire supplier for the SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge,” said Rafael Navarro III, Pirelli Tire North America’s Vice President of Media Communications. “World Challenge is a highly competitive racing series, and will help drivers, teams and fans develop a strong, positive relationship with the Pirelli brand. This is an exciting time for Pirelli Motorsport, as we continue our strategy of growth and development and are now partnered with some of the most important race series and world championships in the world, including Formula One, GP2, GP3, Ferrari Challenge, Lamborghini Super Trofeo, Pirelli Drivers Cup USA and now the Pirelli World Challenge Championships.”was a banner year for Pirelli Motorsport with its return to Formula

1 and the completion of its inaugural year as sole tire supplier to the SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge (now known as the Pirelli World Challenge Championships, or PWCC). PWCC is a competitive production-based race series based in North America, and the Italian tire company supplies the series’ three classes - GT, GTS and Touring Car - with spec P Zero Racing tires. The tires for the series are manufactured at Pirelli’s new motorsport manufacturing facility in Turkey.

The five year contract introduced Pirelli’s P Zero Racing Slick and P Zero Racing Rain spec tires to the series, where competitors competed for the annual Driver’s Championship, Rookie of the Year honors, and the Jim Cook Memorial Trophy. The series also features a Manufacturer’s Championship.

The 2011 Pirelli World Challenge Champions include GT driver Patrick Long in

MOTORSPORTNEWS

“This is an exciting time for Pirelli Motorsport, as we continue our strategy for growth and development.”

– Rafael Navarro III

2011

PIRELLI WORLD CHALLENGE SEASON RECAP

Pirelli has supported the Ferrari Challenge as sole tire supplier since 1993 and has savored a thrilling 2011 season, characterized by three significant developments: the creation of the Asia Pacific series, the new Ferrari 458 Challenge car competing alongside the established F430 Challenge model, plus the debut of the latest evolution Pirelli P Zero racing tire specifically developed for the new Ferrari. The new tire provided increased performance and advanced technical features in line with the requirements of the new car. During the course of the season Pirelli supplied 6000 tires to the 458 and F430 Challenge cars. Two sets of slick tires and one set of wet weather tires were made available to each car at each event.

2011 marked Pirelli’s inaugural year as sole tire supplier to the SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge.

PWCC drivers await eager fans dur-ing a ritual autograph signing session at a race.

Pirelli’s five-year contract introduced the P Zero Racing Slick and P Zero Racing Rain spec tires to the series.

2011 champions include Patrick Long, Paul Brown and TC Lawson Aschenbach.

In 2011, Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli saw a number significant developments, including creation of an Asia Pacific Series.

Year In Review:

fERRARI CHALLENGETROFEO PIRELLI


revamped completely to include a larger contact area, grip, the speed of the lean in and general handling.

Taking cue from its predecessor’s use in WSBK racing, the Diablo Supercorsa’s structure and compounds feature a rear tire built with a high modulus carcass. There is also a new dual compound tread pattern for the race replica version. The new Diablo Supercorsa will continue to set the bar for premium motorcycle tires worldwide with this latest addition to the line, bringing racing innovations within the grasp of the everyday motorcyclist.

ver 10 years, the Diablo line has sold over 5 million tires, developed over 800 types of compound solutions and has seen countless incarnations as it has adapted with technology

and the challenges of modern racing.The latest member of the Diablo family has

now arrived, catering to professional riders and motorcyclists with a love of a sporty style of riding and racing. Premiering at the 2011 EICMA show, the Diablo Supercorsa line continues to expand with the introduction of a new special compound (SC) version and a race replica (SP) version.

From its initial introduction as a Special Compound in the Superstock 1000 FM Cup to a broad range of racing styles, the expansion of the Diablo Supercorsa line will culminate in the 2013 release of the road going race replica version in the common 180/55, 190/55 and 190/50 size for the rear.

Its many new features include a new rear profile calibrated with approximately 2mm more side edge and a 4mm diameter in the center, which will lend the tire increased support when breaking. The rear tire has been

DIABLO SUPERCORSADIABLO SUPERCORSATHE NEW

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1 For 2012, the new Diablo Su-percorsa is fitment on Ducati’s 1199 Panigale.2 Uberto Thun, Motorcycle Busi-ness Unit Director presents the new Diablo Supercorsa at the Pirelli Corso Venezia store in Milan, Italy.3 Designed to bring racing innova-tion and technology within the grasp of the everyday motorcyclist, the Diablo Supercorsa was announced with much anticipation.4 The tire will be first raced exclu-sively in the 2012 FIM Superstock World Championship.

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FORMULA 1Pirel

li &

Form

ula 1

Fun

Fact

s The highest speeds reached by a Pirelli P Zero F1 tire was

216.982 mph by Sergio Perez in Monza Qualify-ing.

1 The youngest and oldest drivers to have driven a P Zero F1

tire are Kevin Ceccon and Martin Brundle, 18 and 51 years old, respectively.

2 Pirelli provided a total of 24,000 dry tires, 4,600 wet tires and an additional 6,000 tires for testing over the course of the 2011 Formula 1 season. Of

these, 21,000 dry tires and 2,900 wet tires were used. Over 10,200 kilgrams of rubber were deposited on track. All 34,600 racing and testing tires were recycled.

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After 19 races and 3600 miles of racing distance Pirelli closed-out a truly remarkable Formula One season in November at the Brazilian GP at the iconic Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo. Pirelli’s first full year back as tire supplier to the F1 series after a nearly 20 year hiatus was characterized by the most overtaking in the 61-year history of the Formula One World Championship thanks to the Italian tire maker’s choice of compounds with differing wear rates resulting in a major shake-up in pit and driver strategies. The increase in action on the circuits helped renew excitement in F1 and kept fans on the edges of their seats all season long.

“It’s been a season that has - if anything - exceeded our expectations,” said Pirelli’s motorsport director Paul Hembery, “[one where] we’ve seen the most overtaking in the history of the Formula One World Championship. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of our team in Milan, Didcot and Izmit for their extraordinary work this season. They should all be proud of their achievements. I’d also like to thank all the teams and drivers

PIRELLI’S FORMULA FOR SUCCESS

FORMULA 1 2011 YEAR IN REVIEWfor their unstinting support, advice and partnership.”

Pirelli has already begun gearing-up for the 2012 race season – one that promises to continue Pirelli’s history of safety and speed. Pirelli was able to utilize two 2012 spec tires during the final race of 2011 – the Brazilian GP, and tested a soft compound during the young driver tests prior to the race at Interlagos.

“Preparations for the 2012 season are well underway, so it will be really interesting to hear the thoughts of the drivers about the new hard and soft tires that we [ran] in Brazil,” he continued. “We’ve already collected plenty of information on the new soft tire from the young driver test, so it will be useful to compare that to real race data. It’s important not to get too distracted by the names of the tires though: what we’re calling a ‘soft’ for now could end up as a medium for next year, as that’s what the testing process is all about. In general, the tires are going to be less conservative next year as the second half of this season has shown how well the teams have understood our product, allowing us to make some reasonably aggressive choices.”

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1 Celebration confetti sticks to a set of P Zero White tires following the Brazilian Grand Prix.2 Team Red Bull take the podium yet again after a successful Formula 1 season.

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739 Total laps Sebastian Vettel led on Pirelli tires

120

35 Least pit stopsin one race

Average life span of a dry compound thisseason

42.8º F

120.02º F

Total miles driven on in 2011

1 9 1 1 6 9 21

Coldest track/ground temperatures P ZEROs ran in

Hottest track/ground temperatures P ZEROs ran in

TIRE FACTS

57Total F1 Drivers driven on P Zero Tires

36,131.56 lbsTotal weight of tires handled by each fitter during a season

Race lap recordsbroken

lb.

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DEALERNEWS

California’s powerhouse in custom restyling for over two decades, RTW Motoring is the exclusive US distributor for the Mansory (Porsche) and Lorinser (Mercedes-Benz) tuning lines and is the exclusive California and Nevada distributor for the ABT (Audi & VW) and Carlsson (Mercedes-Benz) tuning lines. A natural fit for Pirelli’s stable of ultra-high-performance (UHP) tires, RTW offers its customers the very best in aesthetic and performance upgrades, relying on Pirelli’s reference P Zero and Scorpion products to provide their products with the increased grip these powerful cars require.

“RTW is known for bringing Europe’s best-known tuning brands to the States, including Mansory, Lorinser, and Carlsson,” said Sev Kasbarian of RTW Motoring. “Pirelli has supported us by providing

the niche tire sizes and quality products that are demanded by the vehicles being built.” RTW’s business to business wholesaler model helps them serve many of the most renowned new-car dealerships in Southern California, providing only the absolute highest level of service, quality, and value in luxury vehicle customization. From complete vehicle tuner conversions such as Lorinser and Mansory, to quality custom wheels, exterior aerodynamic components, carbon fiber products, and UHP Pirelli products, RTW Motoring is the answer to individualizing luxury vehicles. All work is completed in-house, ensuring the highest levels of quality and care. Relying on RTW’s expert craftsmen is a critical advantage with today’s more sophisticated paints, finishes, and fitments as their team controls the process from start to finish and works hard to stay current on the latest processes and

systems necessary to provide the highest-levels of service to

each customer.”“Our passion and drive (is) to

be the best by providing the highest level of customer s e r v i c e and quality product,” said K a s b a r i a n .

“Our business has evolved

from being a

neighborhood tire and wheel shop to becoming a global company. RTW is extremely diverse - servicing all sorts of automotive needs from tires, wheels (original MBZ chrome and silver) to full blown vehicle transforming aero kits. We pride ourselves into being able to conduct all our services with our in house facility and crew without subletting work out or relying on other companies.”

RTW is on the cutting-edge of vehicle design and tuning, and is currently working on an extremely rare design for the new Ferrari 458. “We are building the first Ferrari 458 Siracusa outside of the Mansory facility,” Kasbarian continued. “The styling kit consists of 55 different pieces that will come together to truly create a one of a kind vehicle.”

Thanks to RTW’s commitment to excellence and its drive to provide only the absolute best to its customers, the company has a brilliant future ahead.

“Due to the variety of products and services offered, the target audience for the company is extremely diverse. Our definite strength is the Southern California market where we service our customers better than anyone else. RTW also caters to customers on a nationwide and global level where we believe our product knowledge and customer service creates a competitive advantage for the company.”

For more information on RTW and the Pirelli products it offers, please visit:www.rtwmotoring.com.

cALIFORNIA’S RTW MOTORINGLUXURY RESTYLE


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... And the winner is ... pIRELLI cANADA’S ajac awards

1 Nearly 100 journalists attended the 2011 AJAC Awards dinner.2 Howard Elmer (right) received a set of winter tires and the 2011 Cal for his first place win.3 Pirelli’s Orazio Mastracchio presents Amee Ree-hal of Calgary with his Pirelli Photography award.

On October 26, Pirelli presented its annual Pirelli Awards to journalists and industry execs as part of AJAC’s annual TestFest and Awards week.

Every year Canadian automotive journalists converge on Niagara-on-the-Lake, a small city midway between Toronto and Buffalo, NY, where the entire crop of new vehicles is assembled for a week of testing and evaluation. The primary purpose of this week of track and road testing is to select the winners in the Canadian Car of the Year Awards sponsored by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada, or AJAC.

Part of the week’s activities is also dedicated to the AJAC Journalism Awards. This year marked the 28th presentation of the Awards and Pirelli was front and center. The Pirelli Automobile Photography Awards are one of the association’s most prized and this year drew a record number of entries. Orazio Mastracchio, Marketing & Quality Manager for Pirelli Tire Canada presented six awards in two categories: Published Photos and Unpublished – the latter category allowing for more imagination and creativity of work. The presentation was part of The AJAC Awards Dinner at the prestigious White Oaks Conference Resort attended by nearly 100 journalists and representatives of fifteen

OEMs plus many aftermarket suppliers.The Awards are judges by three prominent

Canadian photographers, previous award winners who do their judging without knowing who shot which photo. This process insures that the best shots get the praise.

Prior to the Gala, Pirelli also hosted its unique annual reception for the industry and journalists. This provides an informal opportunity for the group to gather as well as a platform for Pirelli to briefly update everyone on its products and activities. This year the buzz centered on Pirelli’s exclusive F1 program. Pirelli is the only one of Canada’s tire companies to host, thanks to AJAC’s category exclusivity policy.

The well-attended awards and the reception are excellent ways for the company to stay prominent in the minds of journalists and industry reps. In a geographically large but sparsely populated country like Canada, it’s rare for everyone to convene in one location. Funding by the participating OEMs allows AJAC to bring the journalists from across Canada in a once a year occasion. For Pirelli, it provides an excellent opportunity to stay in personal contact with important auto journalists.

Read more about AJAC TestFest at:http://ajac.ca/members/testfest/.

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pirelli looks ahead to 2015 · 2011. 12. 30. · momentous year for the dub crew, who were...

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