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The road to professional motor racing on Hankook tyres – Newcomer Fabian Vettel starts in the Audi Sport TT Cup

The Audi Sport TT Cup is at the Norisring this weekend as part of the DTM programme. The only street circuit in Germany is the third venue of the season for the 16 drivers from eleven nations, whose average age is just 18.7 years. Premium tyre maker Hankook has supplied the junior racing series with the Ventus Race tyre since the series was launched in 2015. With its wealth of grip and a high level of consistency, the race tyre offers the young drivers the perfect support as they take their first steps in professional motorsport.
The road to professional motor racing on Hankook tyres – Newcomer Fabian Vettel starts in the Audi Sport TT Cup

Nuremberg/Germany, 2nd July 2017 – One of the rookies in this year’s Audi Sport TT Cup is Fabian Vettel, younger brother of four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel. Unlike many of his fellow drivers, who have spent the majority of their youth on the karting circuit, the 18-year-old has very limited motorsport experience. “I have tried many things, from football to karting, but only every as a hobby,” explains Fabian Vettel.

When he heard of the Audi Sport TT Cup one year ago, he decided to try his luck on the motor racing scene. At the wheel of a rusty Polo GTI, he practiced on a make-shift circuit around dustbins in a car park at the Hockenheimring, before applying for a place in the junior series. Fabian Vettel: “I was invited to the trial, and found it far tougher at first than I thought it would be. However, the more I drove, the better it got. I was also given great support from Audi, and ultimately made it into the starting field for this season.”

After a few teething problems, the young driver has recorded multiple top-ten finishes and is improving all the time. “I am getting along superbly with the Hankook race tyre. However, I must admit that I don’t have much to compare it with,” said the 18-year-old, who is getting faster with every race.

Fabian Vettel does not wish to put himself under too much pressure, but is instead focussing on learning as much as possible in his rookie year in the Audi Sport TT Cup. “A lot has been new to me – not just in and on the car, but also when it came to dealing with media and sponsors. I had to get used to all that. I obviously want to be challenging at the front of the field, and winning, but it is not the end of the world if that is not the case,” he says.

His famous brother Sebastian offers him the odd piece of valuable advice: “You cannot ask for more experience to call upon.” However, Fabian is keen to forge his own path and to avoid living his life in the shadow of his brother. “Sebastian is doing his thing, I am taking care of my business. It would be nice to become a professional racing driver like him. However, there are a lot of young people who want to become professional footballers, but only a handful who actually make it. That is why I am also doing my school exams, to ensure I have a plan B should it not work out in motor racing,” says Vettel.

Like many 18-year-olds, he has his dreams. “If I were actually able to make it in motorsport, my dream would be a seat in the DTM.”

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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The road to professional motor racing on Hankook tyres – Newcomer Fabian Vettel starts in the Audi Sport TT Cup

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The road to professional motor racing on Hankook tyres – Newcomer Fabian Vettel starts in the Audi Sport TT Cup

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The road to professional motor racing on Hankook tyres – Newcomer Fabian Vettel starts in the Audi Sport TT Cup

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The road to professional motor racing on Hankook tyres – Newcomer Fabian Vettel starts in the Audi Sport TT Cup

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