DUNLOP (Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.; President: Yasuaki Kuniyasu) will compete in the Italian Rally Championship (CIAR) starting from the 2026 season, in partnership with former Formula 1 driver Heikki Kovalainen.
The Italian Rally Championship is the most prestigious rally series in Italy, attracting top teams and leading drivers, and represents the highest level of domestic rally competition.
This participation was decided as part of DUNLOP’s ongoing efforts to further expand its global motorsports activities, aligning with the timing of Mr. Kovalainen’s challenge in the CIAR.
Right: Driver Heikki Kovalainen
Left: Co-Driver Patric Öhman
Comment from Heikki Kovalainen
“I am very pleased to be working once again with DUNLOP in Europe. Throughout my career, I have been involved in the development of many tires, and the Italian Rally Championship provides an extremely competitive environment for tire testing.
Our goal is to create and continuously refine winning tires, and I firmly believe that this can be achieved through the collective effort and dedication of everyone involved. The season has already begun, and we have been able to establish our current baseline while clearly identifying the objectives we need to focus on going forward.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone at DUNLOP who made this collaboration possible, as well as to our fans in Japan for their continued and unwavering support.”
Overview of the Italian Rally Championship (CIAR)
The Italian Rally Championship (CIAR) is widely recognized as one of the highest-level national rally championships in Europe. All seven rounds of the series are contested exclusively on tarmac (paved) surfaces. Reflecting Italy’s status as the home of tarmac rallying, the championship is characterized by fast and highly technical stages, requiring drivers to demonstrate exceptional vehicle control, precise line selection, and advanced braking skills, as well as sharp judgment under demanding conditions.
The championship also features numerous prestigious events with long histories, positioning CIAR as a cornerstone of European rally culture. Many top drivers who compete in the World Rally Championship (WRC) and the European Rally Championship (ERC) regularly take part, earning the series a strong reputation internationally as one of the most fiercely contested rally championships.
Furthermore, CIAR serves as an important stepping stone for emerging young drivers aiming to progress to the top levels of rallying. For manufacturers and teams, it represents a crucial platform for accelerating vehicle and tire technology development. Competing in this world-class tarmac rally environment enables participants to refine performance through real-world competition, making CIAR one of the premier series for developing the capabilities required to succeed on the global stage.
Image: Citroën C3 Rally2
Italian Rally Championship – Participation Overview
Team | Driver / Co-driver | Rally Car | Tyres |
Gino Scuderia | Heikki Kovalinen Patric Öhman | Citroën C3 Rally2 | DUNLOP DIREZZA 201R, 301R |
Through its participation in the Italian Rally Championship, DUNLOP will feed back the insights gained from the demanding tarmac rally environment into tire development, with the aim of further enhancing product performance and strengthening brand value. At the same time, DUNLOP will continue to increase the global presence of the brand among motorsports fans worldwide.
Starting in 2026, our company has unified its communication brand under DUNLOP. Across all products and services, DUNLOP embodies three core value propositions: “Confidence that supports challenges,” “Experiences that exceed expectations,” and “Challenging the limits.” Through innovative experiences, the brand strives to create positive emotions for people around the world.
The brand statement “TAKING YOU BEYOND” expresses DUNLOP’s commitment to broadening the possibilities of everyone who takes on new challenges and to continuously guiding them beyond their limits.
