Press Release

  • Motorsport

Premium tyre maker Hankook and the DTM put in a guest appearance at the final of the SUPER GT in Japan

Following the spectacular season finale at the Hockenheimring, the DTM and exclusive tyre partner Hankook are heading for extra time in the land of the rising sun. On 11th and 12th November, all three manufacturers competing in what is arguably the most popular international touring car series, Audi, BMW and Mercedes AMG will be at the final of the SUPER GT series in Motegi/Japan, returning the visit made by the SUPER GT during their own last race weekend of the season in Hockenheim. The drivers Loïc Duval (Audi), Augusto Farfus (BMW) and Maro Engel (Mercedes AMG) will be joining the SUPER GT vehicles from Honda, Lexus and Nissan Nismo on the track in Motegi for demonstration laps on Ventus Race “motorsport” tyres from Hankook, which has been used in different configurations in the DTM since the première of the premium tyre maker back in 2011. The trip to Japan has been organised in order to intensify the cooperation between the ITR as the umbrella organisation of the DTM and the GTA, its counterpart for SUPER GT, and to draw up joint technical rules. This would be the prerequisite to be able to use the cars in both series from 2019 onwards.
Premium tyre maker Hankook and the DTM put in a guest appearance at the final of the SUPER GT in Japan

Neu-Isenburg/Germany, 30th October 2017 Two of the three DTM drivers have driven in the SUPER GT before. Audi driver Loïc Duval is an old hand in this series. The 35-year-old sat in the cockpit from 2006 to 2012, took five chequered flags in 57 races and started from pole position six times. “As a former SUPER GT Champion, I am looking forward to returning to Japan with my Audi RS 5 DTM,” said the Frenchman, who won the Championship title in 2010 with the Weider Honda Racing team together with Takashi Kogure.

Augusto Farfus is also familiar with the SUPER GT series and the Japanese motorsports scene as a whole. The BMW driver took part in several races in the GT300 category and finished third during the 1000km race in Suzuka in 2014. “I have been impressed again and again by the enthusiasm shown by Japanese motorsports fans, and am very proud to be able to present the BMW M4 DTM to them,” said the Brazilian, who will be at the wheel of Tom Blomqvist’s car.

Maro Engel, on the other hand, is not only a rookie in the SUPER GT series, he has never even visited Japan before. “I have heard so much about the great atmosphere at the tracks there and am curious to see what reception our Mercedes-AMG DTM will get from the Japanese spectators” said the DTM returnee, who won this latest season in Moscow for the very first time.

Manfred Sandbichler, Hankook Motorsport Director Europe: “This guest appearance by Hankook and the DTM in Japan will be a great experience. The DTM vehicles with our Ventus Race will be create a stir among the Japanese fans, just like the recent appearance of the SUPER GT vehicles during the final in Hockenheim. This return visit to Japan is ringing in a partnership which will make the two, already very popular series, even more attractive.”

Hankook Tire manufactures globally innovative, award-winning radial tyres of proven superior quality for passenger cars, light trucks, SUVs, RVs, trucks, and buses as well as motorsports (circuit racing/street circuits/rallies).

Aspiring to bring consumers the utmost excellence in product quality, technological excellence and driving satisfaction, Hankook Tire continuously invests in research and development maintaining five R&D centres and eight production facilities around the world. Bespoke tyre solutions for the European markets as well as European Original Equipment according to the requirements of leading premium car manufacturers, are developed in the company’s regional Technical Centre in Hanover/Germany. Production for the European region is taking place in the state-of-the-art manufacturing site in Rácalmás/Hungary which was inaugurated in June 2007 and is continuously being expanded.

Hankook Tire’s European headquarters are located in Neu-Isenburg near Frankfurt am Main in Germany. The manufacturer operates further branches in several European countries and sells its products through regional distributors in other local markets. Hankook Tire employs approximately 20,000 people worldwide and sells products in over 160 countries. The company has been the technical partner and exclusive tyre supplier of the Generation 3 for the FIA ABB Formula E World Championship since 2023. Internationally leading car manufacturers rely on tyres made by Hankook for their original equipment. Approximately 38 percent of the company's global sales are generated within the European region.

For more information please visit www.hankooktire-mediacenter.com or www.hankooktire.com

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

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Premium tyre maker Hankook and the DTM put in a guest appearance at the final of the SUPER GT in Japan

Motorsports: DTM race Zandvoort 2 Gary Paffett (GBR, Mercedes-Benz, HWA AG, Mercedes-AGM C63 DTM) 53 Jamie Green (GBR, AUDI, Team Rosberg GmbH, Audi RS5 DTM) 6 Robert Wickens (CAN, Mercedes-Benz, HWA AG, Mercedes-AGM C63 DTM) 36 Maxime Martin (BEL, BMW, Racing Bart Mampaey, BMW M4 DTM)

File size: 712 KB

Premium tyre maker Hankook and the DTM put in a guest appearance at the final of the SUPER GT in Japan

Motorsports: DTM race Budapest, Saison 2017 - 3. Event Hungaroring, HU, # 77 Loic Duval (FRA, Audi Sport Team Phoenix, Audi RS5 DTM)

File size: 2 MB

Premium tyre maker Hankook and the DTM put in a guest appearance at the final of the SUPER GT in Japan

Spielberg, : Motorsports: DTM race in Spielberg on September, 24, 2017, Austria: DTM race in Spielberg, Austria (Photo by Hoch Zwei) # 15 Augusto Farfus (BRA, Team RM, BMW M4 DTM)

File size: 1 MB

Premium tyre maker Hankook and the DTM put in a guest appearance at the final of the SUPER GT in Japan

Motorsports: DTM race Budapest, Saison 2017 - 3. Event Hungaroring, HU, # 63 Maro Engel (GER, HWA AG, Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM)

File size: 2 MB

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Sabine Riedel

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