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WRC ENTERS NEW ERA WITH HANKOOK TIRE

A new era of the FIA World Rally Championship revs into action in the mountains surrounding Monte-Carlo from 23 January, with cars running on Hankook-supplied tyres for the first time in the series’ 52-year history. Global leading tyre company Hankook Tire & Technology (Hankook Tire) will exclusively supply tyres for all categories for the next three years, beginning with the 2025 season-opening Rallye Monte-Carlo.

All competing cars will be equipped with the Ventus Z215, which provides the best cornering and handling performance in both dry and wet conditions; the Ventus Z210, designed for excellent grip in adverse weather, including wet roads; and the Dynapro R213, a multi-purpose rally tyre with excellent shock absorption, durability, and grip on unpaved roads.

In addition, the Winter i*cept SR20, which provides the best grip on snowy roads in winter, and the Winter i*Pike SR10W, equipped with a special stud pin optimised for slippery ice, will also be installed for next month’s Rally Sweden (13 – 16 February).

Through its partnership with the WRC, Hankook Tire becomes one of only a few brands to support two of the five major FIA world championships, including the FIA Formula E World Championship, the premier electric vehicle racing series. The agreement to exclusively supply WRC tyres was signed at Hankook’s Technoplex headquarters in South Korea in November 2024.

This milestone reflects Hankook Tire’s top-tier motorsport tyre technology, honed through sponsorships of more than 70 global motorsports competitions. The company’s recognition for technological innovation in the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) and FIA Junior ERC have demonstrated Hankook’s readiness for its next challenge.

Beginning in February 2024, Hankook has undertaken an intensive journey to supply tyres to WRC that meet the unique and varied demands of WRC competition. Testing has been conducted across Europe, with sessions held in Finland, Sweden, France and Greece, among other countries.

This meticulous approach has seen Hankook engineers evaluate performance across a range of surfaces. Over 400 kilometres have been logged on ice, over 200 kilometres on snow-asphalt surfaces similar to those found at Rallye Monte-Carlo, over 500 kilometres on pure asphalt, and nearly 1,000 kilometres on gravel – each surface reflecting the diverse challenges faced in real WRC events.

Collaboration with WRC manufacturers has been central to the programme’s success. Hyundai, Toyota, M-Sport Ford and WRC2 powerhouse Citroën have all played pivotal roles in the testing schedule.

“We have already established a successful partnership with Hankook Tire through the ERC, and we are very excited to extend it to the WRC,” said Jona Siebel, Managing Director of WRC Promoter GmbH. “Hankook Tire has been working hard to develop tyres to meet the special needs of the WRC, and we are very much looking forward to its debut performance at Rallye Monte-Carlo in January.”

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