“Not only did production of car tyres expand enormously, but there was also a high degree of perfection, which earned these products a whole string of victories in races, touring competitions, and so on. Already in 1906, at the Milan International exhibition, the company had won a Grand Prix for its display of car tyres. The following year, Prince Scipione Borghese, accompanied by Luigi Barzini, won the coveted palm of victory in the 17,000-kilometre Peking-Paris race organised by Le Matin. They drove the car, fitted with Pirelli tyres, across inhospitable plains, hazardous mountainous areas, riverbeds, and endless rugged tracks. When Pirelli celebrated its first fifty years in 1922, it had already built up a long tradition of victories in motor racing.
A race to experiment
The Peking-Paris motor race was held in 1907. 17,000 kilometres put Pirelli tyres to the test. Scipione Borghese's Itala won the race and Ercole passed the road test with flying colours. Racing was on