Does WRC Tire Deal Open Door for Pirelli to F1 or Close It?

While we all have been focused on the future of Formula 1 tires, there is some uncertainty in the World Rally Championship, as well.

Autosport is reporting that Pirelli is not sure it will try to re-up its deal with the WRC after the 2010 season:

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“We’ll sit down and look at the document,” said [Pirelli motorsport director Paul] Hembery, “but the world has changed significantly since the last time we made our proposal to the FIA.

“We will study the interest in the sport and gauge the effect of our current supply contract to the WRC. I can then present to the board of Pirelli, but it’s not a given that we will get the nod from them.

“Don’t forget, we’ve had to close factories, lay people off and sometimes the sport has to come second. This is purely a financial thing.”

Hembery was at pains to point out that he firmly believed in the direction the WRC is now moving in.

“I like the way the sport’s going,” he added. “ISC as a global promoter is perfect, the events are working well and the calendar’s coming to what we want. But if you want me to say that I’m happy to sit down and re-sign for another three years, well that’s a board decision.

“We have stuck with the sport through what have been some pretty tough years, with low entry levels and manufacturers pulling. We’ve lived through those difficult times and we would want some assurances on the levels of manufacturer interest and assurances on the calendar front – on things like Monte Carlo returning.”

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When Hembery says “the world has changed significantly” he really means: "I doubt we can cough up 11 million Euros again."

Autosport does say that Michelin is expected to make a go for the contract via the BFGoodrich brand, which now supplies teams in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

My question is: What might this mean for Formula 1?

Pirelli is certainly one of those names that came up as soon as Bridgestone announced it was leaving. Would a change from WRC to F1 make sense given the timing? Of course, if the F1 deal is 10 times the size of the WRC one, and money is a concern, it is hard to imagine Pirelli making the switch.

Do you think it is possible that economics, in the end, will force F1 back to multiple tire suppliers? Maybe there is not one brand that can handle the commitment.

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