[Racer Duck]

The World Rally Championship tyre rules have been published and they're effective for 2008, the start of the FIA's three-year sole-supplier agreement with Pirelli.

The Italian manufacturer will produce three different types of tyre. The asphalt tyre (produced in 18-inch wheel size) will be called "P-Zero", the gravel tyre (15-inch) will be called "Scorpion" and the winter tyre will be called "Sottozero".

"Sottozero" tyres are to be in snow pattern 18-inch for next month's Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo (January 24-27) and ice pattern 16-inch for Uddeholm Swedish Rally.

Hand cutting under strict design restrictions will be allowed on asphalt tyres, to provide suitable tyres for wet conditions, otherwise not at all.
By regulations released some time ago mousse inserts are completely banned.

Tyres will be delivered to competitors at events and all studding will be carried out by Pirelli.

Monte Carlo has always produced tyre choice difficulties, but it has been decided that there will be a choice between "P-Zero" or "Sottozero" tyres, always in 18-inch.

For the gravel events, "Scorpion" tyres will be produced in both hard and soft compound, depending on the nature of the event. For all the gravel rallies up to Turkey and then New Zealand later on, hard compound tyres must be used. For the rest of the events, soft compounds tyres are supplied.

For the three clear-weather asphalt events (Germany, Spain and Corsica), "P-Zero" tyres will be produced in both hard compound for dry conditions and soft compound for the wet.

Pirelli are also producing other tyres for the Junior World Rally Championship competitors. There will be 15-inch for the gravel rallies and 17-inch for the asphalt events.