Rally drivers competing throughout Europe on Hankook tyres have been on winning streaks recently with success in a wide range of championships, and the Jim Clark Rally at the end of the month is set to provide more honours for its drivers.

UK motorsports manager Mike Patterson said that on gravel and asphalt and in wet and dry conditions the tyres have been outstanding performers.

“This year’s rally programme sees Hankook sponsoring key championships both in the UK and Ireland with the performance of the tyres attracting new drivers all the time,’’ he said. “The last month has so far been one of the most successful for Hankook drivers with class successes in Belgium, the Isle of Man, Ireland and Scotland.’’

In the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, Colm Murphy secured an impressive Group N win in the International Rally of the Lakes at Killarney. He now leads the Group N category of the Tarmac Championship heading into the Jim Clark Rally, based in Kelso on May 25/26.

In the recent RBS International Manx Rally there were class honours for south coast rally driver Steve Hendy who was second in the Hendy Group Focus WRC and for Tony Higgins in a Mark II Escort.

And honours in the Isle of Man provided two successive weekends for Steve Hendy who finished third overall in the Monteberg Rallyspint, the perfect warm up for the asphalt action on the Isle of Man.

In the Hankook National Forest Rally Championship in Ireland, Mitsubishi’s BRC works driver Guy Wilks swapped to a Hankook-shod Subaru to set the fastest time on the first stage of the Moonraker Forestry Rally with Keith Cronin continuing his winning ways on the rally with Group N success.

“It’s great to have a presence and success in so many championships and in different parts of Europe and we now look forward to the Jim Clark Rally,’’ said Mike.