Rally Hungary is the first gravel event and the second round of the FIA European Rally Championship, taking place from 9 to 11 May at Veszprém.
There’s a field of 65 drivers chasing championship points, including Jon Armstrong in a Ford, with Jos Verstappen and Andrea Mabellini in Skodas, all running Pirelli tyres.
The challenges of the technically demanding Hungarian rally are well known to the crews, but it is still a tricky event because of its varied and rugged terrain, compounded by recent rain and a forecast for changeable weather. A particular feature of this event is its narrow, twisty gravel roads, with steep climbs and uneven surfaces, which require very precise car control and an ability to adapt to changing surface conditions.
“You can’t take anything for granted in a rally like this,” commented Terenzio Testoni, Rally Activity Manager Pirelli. “Precise driving in every situation and accurate note making during the recce are vital. Qualifying takes on greater importance because those starting first on the stages will have an advantage on this type of surface which deteriorates rapidly with each pass. After recent rain, no more is currently forecast, but if there should be more rain, the starting position becomes even more critical.”
To tackle the 13 special stages making up the 193 timed kilometres, Pirelli is supplying its drivers with the three versions from its Scorpion gravel range: the K4A hard, the K6A soft, the prime tyre for this rally, and the K8B super soft. The regulations allow each crew to use up to 16 tyres in total, including those for qualifying.
Rally Hungary is also the second round of the season for the ERC Fiesta Rally3 Trophy, for which Pirelli is the sole tyre supplier. The Magyar event sees a record number of 9 cars in this class and they will run the Scorpion 175/70-15 K4 hard and the K6 soft.
Source: Tyretradenews
