Press Release

  • Motorsport

A demanding circuit with a smooth surface: Tyre management can decide the race at the Lausitzring

Premium tyre maker Hankook and the DTM return to Germany this weekend. The Lausitzring is the venue for round seven of the season in arguably the most popular international touring car series, as the title race comes to a head. René Rast is favourite to win the championship, following his victory on the Sunday at Brands Hatch. The Audi driver has only failed to pick up points in two of the twelve DTM races so far and, with four wins, four podiums, a fifth and a seventh place, has been consistently strong. His closest rival is fellow Audi racer, Nico Müller, who trails Rast by 37 points. BMW drivers Marco Wittmann and Philipp Eng are still within striking distance in third and fourth place, but will have to start winning races if they are to catch the two Audi men. The Hankook race tyre could play a key role in the final stages of the season, as its high degree of consistency and predictability allows aggressive race strategies.
A demanding circuit with a smooth surface: Tyre management can decide the race at the Lausitzring

Neu-Isenburg/Germany, 20th August 2019 – The 4.570-kilometre Grand Prix circuit is technically demanding and driven in an anti-clockwise direction. Top speed is key on the start and finish straights, while the infield, with its many slow corners and chicanes, demands maximum traction in order to be able to accelerate quickly out of these sections. “This layout demands a balanced car set-up and you must find a compromise that allows you to best cope with the switch between fast and slow sections. One feature is the severe bouncing, which has led some drivers to refer to the Lausitzring as a “mogul run”. The drivers must adapt to that, particularly in the braking zones,” explains Thomas Baltes, the Hankook race engineer responsible for the DTM.

The fine-pored asphalt at the Lausitzring offers little grip. The drivers must be particularly careful when rejoining the race after a pit stop on a fresh set of Hankook race tyres, which may not be pre-heated. The smooth surface means it takes a little longer than at other DTM circuits to get the Ventus Race up to its ideal temperature and optimal grip level. Thomas Baltes: “With the new turbo engines, generating over 600 hp, we will more often than otherwise see wheelspin on this smooth surface. That can lead to the tyre heating more dramatically and thus to greater tyre wear. However, that depends greatly upon the driver’s driving style.”

Tyre management has become a decisive factor in the DTM this season. Many teams have opted for an asymmetric pit stop strategy, dividing their races into one short and one very long stint. “Some drivers manage to take full advantage of the high level of grip provided by the Hankook race tyre for a very long time, before the intended drop-off effect kicks in. These drivers are able to react flexibly, as they need not stick to a strict pit stop window. That could be decisive in the title race.”

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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A demanding circuit with a smooth surface: Tyre management can decide the race at the Lausitzring

Klettwitz: DTM Lausitzring Test 2019, Klettwitz on April, 16, 2019, (Photo by Hoch Zwei) Rene Rast ( D, Audi Sport Team Rosberg )

File size: 1 MB

A demanding circuit with a smooth surface: Tyre management can decide the race at the Lausitzring

Klettwitz: DTM Lausitzring Test 2019, Klettwitz on April, 17, 2019, (Photo by Hoch Zwei) Jake Dennis ( GBR, Aston Martin )

File size: 2 MB

A demanding circuit with a smooth surface: Tyre management can decide the race at the Lausitzring

Klettwitz: DTM Lausitz on May, 20, 2018, (Photo by Hoch Zwei) Start

File size: 3 MB

A demanding circuit with a smooth surface: Tyre management can decide the race at the Lausitzring

Audi Sport RS 5 DTM #33 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg), René Rast

File size: 2 MB

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Sabine Riedel

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Sabine Riedel

PR Manager Marketing Communications

 +49 (0) 6102 8149-178

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Digital Marketing Communications

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