Hankook extends DTM tyre partnership

Hankook and European touring car racing series DTM have signed an extension to their official tyre supplier deal, extending the partnership until at least 2016. DTM’s organisers have been sufficiently satisfied by the development of Hankook’s Ventus line of motorsport tyres to sign the deal ahead of schedule, while the Korean tyre manufacturer is keen to sustain the brand value and premium brand status it derives in part from this deal. Hankook added an all new option tyre specification this season, which it president & chief marketing officer/chief corporate management officer at believes allows the company to demonstrate the brand’s performance on premium brand vehicles.

Hyun Bum Cho stated: “Good, stable regulations, professionalism, and an experienced, reliable management have always been the basis for successful motorsport series. The DTM is one of the most popular and well organised racing series around the world and as such has provided an ideal platform to demonstrate Hankook’s advanced and futuristic race tyre technology from the very beginning of our engagement. The early extension of our engagement as the exclusive tyre supplier to the DTM therefore was never questioned.” 

Hans Werner Aufrecht, chairman of the board of DTM rights holder and promoter ITR said: “The cooperation with Hankook during the first two years of our partnership has absolutely convinced us of the high level of performance they deliver. This is why we wanted to continue our successful cooperation beyond 2013. The early extension of the contract is a logical consequence.”

Hankook’s option tyres meet a new regulation expected to increase excitement in DTM’s 2013 season. Drivers will be able to use both the Ventus base line of motorsports tyres and the new “ultra-grip” Ventus option tyres during each race. Similar to Dunlop’s extended range of tyres for the British Touring Car Championship, this move is designed to create an additional variety in race strategy.

“With our new DTM exclusive option tyre we can once more demonstrate the performance of our advanced products in a unique environment – fitted on the vehicles of DTM participating premium manufacturers Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz,” Cho added.

“We are excited to see how the new option tyres will perform this season. By bringing two different tyre compounds into action during the races we surely will see more action on the track and more possibilities for overtaking. A big ‘Thank You’ to the Hankook engineers who have perfectly met the challenging task to develop a tyre according to our wishes – a tyre that allows for faster lap times over a limited period and then deteriorates quickly,” Aufrecht concluded.

DTM attracts many hundreds of thousands of viewers on-site every year, and is broadcast in more than 175 countries around the world. The series is a good fit for Hankook, a brand considered by many to belong in the company of traditional premium players. It believes the series is helping to solidify its brand value in the global automotive market. The company is no newcomer to the global motorsport arena, having taken an active part in motorsport events since 1992. In addition to DTM, Hankook supplies tyres to the Italian Superstars Series, the Swedish TTA Racing Elite League, the FIA Formula 3 European Championship, the Le Mans and Nuerburgring 24-hour endurance races, and the FIA Junior WRC.