The world-renowned Europe-based touring car racing series will be relying on the companys superior tyre technology for another 3-year period starting from 2014. The early partnership extension sustains Hankooks brand value as a premium tyre manufacturer and together with the additional all new option tyre specification from 2013 season which fortifies the tyre manufacturers technological superiority.
Premium tyre manufacturer Hankook and DTM today announced that they have successfully extended their official supply partnership ahead of schedule. The world-renowned Europe-based touring car racing series, will continue to race on Hankook Ventus line of motorsport tyres until at least 2016, relying on Hankook Tires superior tyre technology.
"Good, stable regulations, professionalism, and an experienced, reliable management have always been the basis for successful motorsport series," says Mr. Hyun Bum Cho, President & Chief Marketing Officer/Chief Corporate Management Officer at Hankook Tire. "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 Hankooks 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.
"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," says Mr. Hans Werner Aufrecht, Chairman of the Board of the DTM rights holder and promoter ITR e.V.
In addition to the tyre line-up supplied to the DTM in the past, from 2013 onwards Hankook Tire will also bring option tyres to the race tracks. The new regulation is expected to add further excitement to DTMs new season. DTM pilots will be driving on Hankooks extremely reliable and renown Ventus base line of motorsports tyres, as well as on the all new and ultra-grip Ventus option tyres during each race thus allowing for an additional variety in the race strategy for a more thrilling and exciting race to unfold.
"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, Mr. 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 wishesa tyre that allows for faster lap times over a limited period and then deteriorates quickly." Mr.,Aufrecht stated.
DTM is one of the the most popular high-class motorsport events worldwide, attracting many hundreds of thousands of viewers on-site every year and being broadcasted in more than 175 countries around the world. Taking on the momentum of this partnership extension, Hankook Tire will be able to solidify its brand value as a premium tyre maker in the global automotive market. The company entered the global motorsport arena and began to take an active part in top-class motorsport events in 1992. Based on the technological know-how accumulated over the past decade, Hankook Tire is continuously building a premium tyre brand image through participating in various motorsport championships in addition to the DTM, such as the Italian born-and-bread Superstars Series, the Swedish TTA Racing Elite League, the FIA Formula 3 European Championship , the Le Mans and Nuerburgring 24-hour endurance races or the FIA Junior WRC.
