Hankook becomes title sponsor of Mexico, Rome London finale E-Prix

Hankook will commence its role as the new official technical partner and tyre supplier of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in 2023. The manufacturer, which is taking over from the original tyre supplier to the championship, Michelin, will further underline its commitment to the series with title sponsorship of three rounds in 2023, including the season finale in London. Hankook has invested heavily in the marketing of its new line of tyres for electric vehicles in 2022, the iON series. The manufacturer will supply the iON Race to Formula E, having tested the tyre in Valencia in December.

The new season begins with the Hankook Mexico City E-Prix on 14 January 2023, where the Hankook iON Race will make its competitive debut. Hankook’s title sponsorships will bookend the ninth Formula E season, with the final four races taking place in the Italian and UK capitals. The Hankook Rome E-Prix (15-16 July) and the Hankook London E-Prix (29-30 July) will see the 2023 champion crowned.

Sooil Lee, president and CEO of Hankook Tire & Technology, said: “We are extremely proud to be title sponsor of three very high-profile rounds of the coming Formula E season. Experience shows that the public watches the season-opener and the finale particularly closely. We are also putting our name to the double-header in Rome, where it is possible that the destination of the title could be decided.”

Jamie Reigle, CEO, Formula E: “As new Technical Partner of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, Hankook Tire is hitting the road hard as title sponsor at three of our most iconic race events. Starting in Mexico City, fans will see the Gen3 race car in action for the first time incorporating the pioneering tyre technology of Hankook Tire. With high-performance and sustainability central to the production of the latest EV race tyres, fans can expect even closer and more dramatic wheel to wheel racing on all of our city centre circuits.”

‘Positive start’ for Hankook iON Race in Valencia

Following testing in the week commencing 12 December in Valencia, the Thomas Baltes, chief engineer motorsport, pronounced himself “very happy” with the results of the test, in conditions that were not the easiest. Rain on the Tuesday “allowed us to see the iON Race perform in wet conditions. We are working closely with the teams and have so far received an awful lot of positive feedback,” he said.

Nico Müller of the ABT CUPRA Formula E Team said: “We had a very valuable test day on Tuesday, as far as the tyres are concerned. The conditions varied from dry to slightly damp, right up to very wet. That allowed us to gather very important information for the season and familiarise ourselves with the tyres in a wide range of track conditions. It was a positive start and we have a very good feeling going into the season.”