Formula E car sets world record on Hankook tyres

Ahead of this weekend’s 2023 Hankook London E-Prix, British Formula E driver Jake Hughes set a new indoor land speed record in a modified Gen3 car. This ‘GenBeta’ prototype generates up to 400 KW and delivers it to the track via modified Hankook iON Race tyres. Hughes called upon this power to clock a new milestone of 135.9 mph or 218.71 km/h on a 346-metre indoor straight. An official Guinness World Records adjudicator witnessed the feat, meaning Formula E and Hankook can now take their place in the famous book.

As official tyre partner of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, Hankook Tire claims to have played a “fundamental role” in achieving the new record. It specifically modified the Hankook iON Race development tyre for the record attempt, using a softer compound that enabled heat to build up within the tyre more rapidly and thus achieve an optimal working temperature in a shorter space of time than is possible with the tyres Hankook currently supplies to the Formula E world championship.

Quick grip a key to success

“What a great project and a magnificent record. We are delighted to have played an important part with our Hankook tyre, and that together we were able to smash the previous record by more than 50 km/h. The modified compound allowed the tyre to develop a lot of grip very quickly, which was one of the keys to this success,” says Manfred Sandbichler, motorsport director Europe at Hankook Tire.

A modified compound allowed the tyre to develop grip very quickly (Photo: Hankook)

The world record attempt took place at the circuit where the 2023 Hankook London E-Prix will take place, a unique indoor and outdoor racetrack at the ExCeL London Event Arena. At the end of this weekend’s finale of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, Formula E will crown its 2023 world champion.