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There are some PR deliveries that disappear into the pantry and others that immediately get someone excited. When Barilla sent us its new Gran Ruote Racing Edition pasta ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, my child was instantly fascinated by the tiny wheel-shaped pieces. Needless to say, they were a hit at home.
For me, the pairing was even easier because I have long been a fan of Barilla’s pesto sauces. Toss the wheel-shaped pasta with pesto and you have the kind of quick, fuss-free meal that works particularly well on busy evenings, while still being playful enough to get younger diners interested.
The limited-edition pasta marks Barilla’s partnership with Formula 1 as its Official Pasta Partner, bringing a little motorsport energy from the Marina Bay Street Circuit straight to the dinner table.
Pasta inspired by the racetrack
Made in Italy using 100% durum wheat semolina, the Barilla Gran Ruote Racing Edition is designed to resemble miniature racing wheels.
It is not simply a novelty shape either. The pasta has deep ridges, open spokes and a hollow centre designed to help sauces cling to its surface, while retaining the firm texture expected from an al dente pasta.
That makes it versatile enough for everything from pesto and tomato-based sauces to richer ragù or arrabbiata. For families, though, part of the appeal is undoubtedly how fun it looks on the plate. There is something about eating little racing wheels during Formula 1 season that makes an ordinary bowl of pasta feel a little more special.
Bringing Italian Sunday traditions to race weekend
Barilla has positioned the release around the idea of Domenica Italiana, the Italian tradition of slowing down on Sundays and spending time around the table with family and friends.
It is an interesting contrast to the speed and intensity associated with Formula 1. While race weekend is all about precision, performance and split-second decisions, food gives people an excuse to slow things down before or after the action.
For Singapore households watching the Grand Prix together, that concept translates easily into a relaxed home meal or race-night gathering where dinner becomes part of the occasion.
“Barilla Gran Ruote Racing Edition pasta brings together two worlds that Barilla and Formula 1 are passionate about – the excitement of racing and the joy of sharing good food,” said Melissa Chin, Head of Categories and Marketing at Barilla South & Southeast Asia.
The brand says the special edition celebrates values shared by both Barilla and Formula 1, including passion, precision and togetherness.
An easy addition to a race-night menu
To accompany the launch, Chef Andrea Tranchero, Executive Chef at Barilla APAC, has also created recipes specifically around the Gran Ruote shape, with an emphasis on straightforward preparation and ingredients that complement the pasta.
But you certainly do not need an elaborate recipe to enjoy it. At home, we found that its distinctive shape does a good job of holding sauce, which is another reason pesto works particularly well with it. And when your child is enthusiastically eating pasta because it looks like racing wheels, that is already a small dinner-time victory.
Where to find Barilla Gran Ruote Racing Edition in Singapore
The limited-edition Barilla Gran Ruote Racing Edition is available in Singapore at selected FairPrice and Cold Storage outlets, as well as online through FairPrice Online and RedMart.
Availability is limited during the racing season, so Formula 1 fans, pasta lovers or parents simply looking for a fun twist on an easy family meal may want to keep an eye out for it while stocks last.
For us, it managed to do two things rather well: make dinner more exciting for a child and give me another excuse to open a jar of pesto. That feels like a fairly successful lap around the dinner table.
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