Hankook exclusive tyre partner for Australia’s Extreme Rallycross series

Newly-launched Australian rallycross series Sidchrome Extreme Rallycross has selected Hankook as exclusive tyre partner for the next three years. The first event in the inaugural seven-round series takes place in Brisbane on 4 and 5 September, and all three race classes will run on 17-inch Hankook Ventus rally tyres.

The Sidchrome Extreme Rallycross Championship is a CAMS (Confederation of Australian Motor Sport) sub-event and will be contested by a mix of Supercar Lites and locally-built cars. “This is the kind of spectacle Australian motorsport needs,” comments Hankook Tyre Australia motorsport manager Dean Evans. “Rallycross is undoubtedly the next big thing in global motorsport, and now that we have an Australian version, Hankook wanted to be a part of it from the start – and we had the right tyre to support it.”

Mixing the best aspects from traditional stage rallying and circuit racing, and competing on mixed surfaces comprising both tarmac and gravel, rallycross has proven hugely popular in Europe and the USA, with the likes of WRC champion Petter Solberg winning the 2014 World Rallycross Championship, and other drivers including Sebastien Loeb, Ken Block, Marcus Gronholm, Tanner Foust and Travis Pastrana, all competing in rallycross events.

All cars competing in Extreme Rallycross will use the same specification tyre, the Hankook Ventus Z213 in size 200/625R17. This FIA-spec tyre is imported into Australia specifically for the unique demands of Extreme Rallycross. “Hankook Australia worked closely with Extreme Rallycross to determine what they were trying to achieve in regards to grip and ‘the show’,” adds Evans. Drawing on feedback given by Australian WRC drivers Alister McRae and Chris Atkinson, Hankook chose a tyre size, pattern and compound that it believes will offer the best balance between grip, cost and durability, and will assure a safe and reliable tyre for the Extreme Rallycross championship.

“We needed something that could cope with both tarmac and dirt, but also jumps, so we chose what Hankook uses for ‘intermediate’ conditions in the WRC, but also something that will add to the spectacle of Extreme Rallycross,” shares Evans.

Hankook Tyre Australia has signed up to partner with Extreme Rallycross for the 2015 to 2017 seasons, and in addition to serving as exclusive tyre supplier the Hankook brand will be present on all race vehicles and on event promotional materials. “We are very pleased to have Hankook Tire on board for the next three seasons as one of our key sponsors,” states David Ridden, director of Sidchrome Extreme Rallycross. “The Ventus tyre by Hankook is an excellent choice and proved reliable as a performance tyre at our test race days. With Australia’s fastest growing tyre manufacturer and the world’s fastest growing motorsport, the future of Extreme Rallycross racing looks very promising.”

Alongside its partnership with Extreme Rallycross, Hankook supports a number of Australian motorsport events, including the Australian Manufacturers Championship, Australia Formula 4 and V8 Race Experience.