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Fabienne Wohlwend sets sights on the podium in the new W Series with Hankook race tyres

The Hockenheimring is the stage for a world premiere this weekend. The iconic circuit near Heidelberg hosts the inaugural round of the women-only W Series, which shares the bill with the DTM. As a partner from the outset, premium tyre maker Hankook has supplied the new racing series with the Ventus Race tyre, with the intention of helping young female drivers to develop in a motorsport world that is still very much dominated by their male counterparts. The new W Series features on the support programme for the DTM at six events. 20 young women from 15 countries line up at the wheel of a 270-hp Formula 3 racer. A total prize purse of 1.5 million Euros is up for grabs.
Fabienne Wohlwend sets sights on the podium in the new W Series with Hankook race tyres

Hockenheim/Germany, 4th May 2019 – Fabienne Wohlwend is one of the 20 young drivers who emerged from the 50 candidates at the selection test to take her place in the W Series. The Liechtensteiner first sat in a kart at the age of seven, before stepping up to Formula 4. Her biggest motorsport success so far came last year, when the 21-year-old became the first woman ever to win the ProAm class in the Ferrari Challenge. “It was my most emotional and nicest victory to date. The Ferrari Challenge has been going for 25 years, so to be the first women on the top step of the podium was rather special,” says Wohlwend.

When the qualified banker heard about the W Series, she wasted no time in applying for the new women-only Formula series. She successfully came through the tough acceptance test, in which participants must demonstrate technical know-how and physical fitness, as well as completing virtual tests. Wohlwend: “It is great to see women, who are clearly outnumbered in motorsport, being actively promoted and showing the men how things are done. There is a cool atmosphere in the W Series. We do a lot together and get on well. Out on the track, however, the racing is just as fierce as it is with the men.”

The Hankook race tyre is an old acquaintance for the young driver. She came to know and value the premium tyre maker’s Ventus Race two years ago, in the Audi Sport TT Cup. “I coped very well with the Hankook tyre in the front-wheel drive Audi Sport TT Cup. It is exactly the same story in the Formula car in the W Series. The tyre is incredibly consistent and you can still set top lap times even late in the race. For me, it is an advantage that I already know the Hankook race tyre well, and it suits my driving style perfectly,” says the woman from Liechtenstein.

This is just one reason why Wohlwend is aiming high this season. She had originally set her sights on finishing among the top seven drivers. However, after successful tests and the good interaction with the Hankook race tyre, she is now looking to end the season on the W Series podium. The 21-year-old has never lost sight of her dream. “I would like to make my hobby my job and become a professional racing driver. The W Series, for which you do not need to provide your own financial resources, is a unique opportunity to take a big step in that direction. My ultimate goal is to earn enough money to make a living from motorsport.”

Hankook Tire fabrique à l’échelle mondiale des pneumatiques radiaux premium et innovants – dont plusieurs ont été primés – destinés aux véhicules de tourisme, 4X4/SUV, utilitaires, poids lourds, autobus ainsi qu’aux véhicules de sports automobiles (courses sur circuit, circuits urbains, rallyes).

Afin d'offrir à ses clients une qualité optimale associée à l'excellence technologique et au confort de conduite, Hankook investit en permanence dans la recherche et le développement. L'entreprise élabore et produit des solutions de pneumatiques sur mesure, parfaitement adaptées aux exigences et aux demandes des marchés régionaux dans cinq centres de développement internationaux et huit grandes usines. En Europe, le développement des pneumatiques ainsi que la production des équipements de première monte sont effectués dans le Centre technique d'Hankook à Hanovre en Allemagne selon les critères des plus grands constructeurs automobiles européens. Les pneumatiques sont produits au sein de l'usine européenne ultra moderne de Rácalmás en Hongrie, qui a été inaugurée en 2007 et ne cesse d'être agrandie depuis.

Le siège européen du manufacturier de pneumatiques est situé à Neu-Isenburg, près de Francfort-sur-le-Main en Allemagne. Le manufacturier possède des filiales dans plusieurs pays européens et vend ses produits par l'intermédiaire de distributeurs régionaux sur d'autres marchés locaux. Hankook emploie environ 20 000 salariés dans le monde entier et commercialise ses produits dans plus de 160 pays. L’entreprise a été choisie comme partenaire technique et fournisseur exclusif de pneumatiques de la Génération 3 pour le championnat du monde de Formule E de la FIA ABB, à partir de 2023. Pour leurs équipements de première monte, les plus grands constructeurs automobiles font confiance aux pneumatiques fabriqués par Hankook. L'Europe représente environ 38 % du chiffre d'affaires global de l'entreprise.

Pour obtenir plus d’informations, veuillez consulter www.hankooktire-mediacenter.com ou www.hankooktire.com

Hankook Tire Europe GmbH | Marketing Communications Europe | Siemensstr. 14, 63263 Neu-Isenburg | Germany

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Fabienne Wohlwend sets sights on the podium in the new W Series with Hankook race tyres

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Fabienne Wohlwend sets sights on the podium in the new W Series with Hankook race tyres

W Series Testing. Lausitzring, Germany. Sunday 14th April 2019. Copyright, 2019, Colin McMaster/LAT Images/W Series.

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Fabienne Wohlwend sets sights on the podium in the new W Series with Hankook race tyres

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Fabienne Wohlwend sets sights on the podium in the new W Series with Hankook race tyres

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+49 (0) 6102 8149-173

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