FROM OFF SHORE TO OFF ROAD

The world of the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team sailors and that of the World Rally Championship drivers came together in Sardinia for a unique overlap over two days of ultimate sport and speed. Pirelli, co-title sponsor of Luna Rossa and sole supplier of the WRC, was the point of contact between these two sporting realities that travel on very different racecourses but share the common passions for challenges and the constant search for the most advanced technologies and materials. 

 

The exchange of skills and perspectives between the worlds of sea and off-road took place through a co-driving experience on the WRC1 Hyundai i20N and Toyota Yaris GR cars for the sailors, and in an on-water training session aboard the AC40 for the drivers. The AC40 is the boat the sailors raced in during last year's Preliminary Regattas in Vilanova i la Gertrù (Spain) and Jeddah (Saudi Arabia). As required by the Rule of the 37th America's Cup, the AC40 is a flying monohull like the AC75 (official Cup boat), but smaller and strictly One Design (in other words, the same for all teams). This boat is capable of reaching speeds in excess of 80 km/h and will also be used by the youth and women's teams for the Youth & Women's America's Cup scheduled this summer in Barcelona.

The event was held at the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team base in Cagliari and at a closed-road gravel course in Capoterra, not far from the Sardinian capital.

 

Participating for Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli were Max Sirena (Team Director and Skipper), Gilberto Nobili (Operations Manager & Mechatronic Coordinator), Marco Gradoni, Checco Bruni, Ruggero Tita (three of the sailing team's helmsmen), Shannon Falcone (On-Water Fleet & Safety Manager) and Rocco Falcone (Youth America's Cup sailor), while the WRC drivers included eight-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Ogier for Toyota, Thierry Neuville for Hyundai and Grégoire Munster for Ford.

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