Pirelli has won the tender to become the exclusive tyre supplier to the FIA World Rally Championship in a four-year deal starting in 2021.

The Italian company will supply tyres for the headline World Rally Car (Rally1) class and the R5 (Rally2) class, including the WRC 2 and WRC 3 support championships.

Pirelli’s appointment was approved by an FIA World Motor Sport Council e-vote this week and will close a long era of domination by Michelin.

Pirelli has a long WRC history, amassing 181 wins and 25 world titles with some of the most successful teams and drivers in the sport. After a break in 2017, the Italian firm returned in 2018 and is already the exclusive tyre supplier for the Junior World Rally Championship.

Its last season as exclusive supplier was 2010, when its rubber carried Sébastien Loeb and Citroën to world titles.

FIA rally director Yves Matton said: “This is an exciting new phase in the development of the World Rally Championship and we are happy to announce Pirelli as our exclusive single tyre supplier for a period of four years from 2021. I am convinced Pirelli will bring a wealth of experience to the programme.”

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