Pirelli in ADAC Formula 4: Ready for the second half of the season

• Just like their F1 seniors, the talented youngsters of ADAC Formula 4 compete on Pirelli tyres
• A positive interim report after the first four race weekends of the season
• The Nürburgring challenge: Pirelli perfectly prepared for second half of season

Munich: Getting a head start – just like their seniors in Formula 1, the talented youngsters of ADAC Formula 4 compete on tyres supplied by Pirelli. The Italian premium manufacturer has been equipping the ADAC High Speed Academy since the start of the 2015 season. Each race weekend, Pirelli supplies the teams with around 650 tyres. The four events held so far in the context of the ADAC GT Masters have seen around 2,600 Pirelli tyres delivered to the race track. Whether in rain at Spa-Francorchamps or in temperatures close to 40°C, as recently at the Lausitzring, the tyres manufactured by Pirelli have coped with the most diverse conditions.

Pirelli’s own assessment after the first half of the ADAC Formula 4 season is positive. “The series is highly professional, and the performances put in by the youngsters are pretty impressive,” says Michael Blaufuss, Head of Motorsport Pirelli Germany. “We are obviously delighted with the very positive feedback on the tyres from the drivers and teams. Especially as the season so far has gone from chilly temperatures to extreme heat. We’ve had the lot, and despite this massive variation in weather and temperature conditions, our tyres have performed reliably.” ADAC Formula 4 cars have an identical spec, which includes the engine (160bhp) and the tyre dimensions: 200/540-13 and 250/575-13 on the rear.

As in other racing series, optimum use of the tyres is a critical factor in ADAC Formula 4. The regulations state that each team is to receive six new slick tyres and a maximum two sets of wet tyres per event. “Correct tyre management is crucial,” says Blaufuss. “On the one hand, you have optimum use of the tyres themselves, which starts with getting them up to the right temperature, and on the other, you have the best strategic use of the tyre allowance under the regulations for qualifying and racing.” ADAC Formula 4 is a highly competitive series: in the twelve races contested so far this season, no fewer than 13 different drivers have finished on the podium while seven individuals have set the fastest lap.

Pirelli not only supplies the tyres but also provides trackside support to the ADAC Formula 4 teams which come from different countries. The tyre manufacturer has an on-site presence at each race, with a team of engineers and tyre technicians on standby.

“The overall development objective was the optimum range for open-wheel cars in this category”, says Blaufuss explaining Pirelli’s design strategy. “The tyre is intended to provide the perfect balance between durability and performance at the temperature windows expected during the races. So the tyre has been attuned to engine performance, vehicle weight, and other relevant parameters, which means that it always has the necessary safety factors in reserve.”

After the successful first half of the season, the second part of the debut season of ADAC Formula 4 gets underway this coming weekend (14th - 16th August) at the Nürburgring. The legendary circuit in the Eifel poses its very own challenge for the tyres. In particular, changeable weather conditions may play a role. Pirelli believes it is well prepared for Races 13 to 15 of the 2015 season at the Nürburgring. ADAC Formula 4's official broadcasting partner SPORT1 shows all three races on free-to-air TV.

“Pirelli, and especially the P Zero series, has a long history of success at the Nürburgring,” says Anna Playford, Pirelli Trackside Engineer. “We come here frequently, and our tyres are used in different race classes, so we are fully familiar with the specific challenges at the Ring. The speeds and the cornering radii vary significantly, plus you have high lateral and longitudinal forces operating on the tyres. Also, the sharp braking zones and the kerbs accentuate wear. And of course, the famously changeable Eifel weather may cause our entire product range to be used.”