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Ferdinand Habsburg: “The Hankook race tyre is ideal for our series”

The FIA Formula 3 European Championship is at the Red Bull Ring in Austria this weekend. The penultimate round of Europe’s strongest Formula series for young drivers is a home event for Ferdinand Habsburg, the great-grandson of the last Emperor of Austria. The 21-year-old would actually be “Imperial Crown Prince and Archduke of Austria” were there not a ban on nobility in the alpine republic. As it is, he is one of 21 young drivers in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship, which premium tyre maker Hankook has supported with the Ventus Race tyre since 2012.
Ferdinand Habsburg: “The Hankook race tyre is ideal for our series”

Spielberg/Austria, 23rd September 2018 – Ferdinand Habsburg’s second season in the single-seater series for young drivers has not gone entirely to plan. Having finished seventh in his rookie season in 2017, he was regarded by many as a dark horse this year. However, the young Austrian has been unable to back up last year’s success. Third place in Misano was Habsburg’s first podium finish. “Our engine failed at the season-opener, which meant we have had to use the replacement engine for all the races so far. That is no excuse though. I am just struggling to live up to the high expectations and must learn to handle the pressure. This is just something I have to get though, and I would rather get this experience under my belt at the start of my career,” says the 21-year-old.

Even as a young boy, the great-grandson of the emperor was fascinated by motorsport and used to race his toy cars around tracks that he had built himself. When he was 16, Ferdinand Habsburg attended the renowned Lechner Racing School. In 2014, he took part in the Formula Renault series and ended the season in fourth place. Two years later, he was runner-up at the Euroformula Open. By this time, his hobby had become a profession and the Austrian was proving to be a quick learner. After convincing his father that his future lays at the wheel of a racing car, the path was free for Habsburg to forge a career in motorsport.

The Austrian has been given an enthusiastic welcome at his home event in Spielberg. “It feels good to have such great support from my compatriots. They are cool and very friendly. They encourage me and are right behind me,” says a delighted Habsburg. However, the 21-year-old can also rely on the race tyre provided by premium tyre maker Hankook. “The Hankook race tyre is ideal for our series. You can push hard on it on every lap and do not have to worry about tyre management. The Hankook tyre manages itself. As a driver, you are able to focus fully on the race, which allows you to learn an incredible amount. If I had enough money, I would buy myself a Formula 3 car and 50 sets of Hankook race tyres. I would use them to practice as long as it takes until I can take turn seven at the Red Bull Ring at full throttle every time.”

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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Ferdinand Habsburg: “The Hankook race tyre is ideal for our series”

62 Ferdinand Habsburg (AUT, Carlin, Dallara F317 - Volkswagen), FIA Formula 3 European Championship, round 9, Red Bull Ring (AUT), 21. - 23. September 2018

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Ferdinand Habsburg: “The Hankook race tyre is ideal for our series”

62 Ferdinand Habsburg (AUT, Carlin, Dallara F317 - Volkswagen), 16 Nikita Troitckii (RUS, Carlin, Dallara F317 - Volkswagen), FIA Formula 3 European Championship, round 7, Misano (ITA), 24. - 26. August 2018

File size: 1 Mo

Ferdinand Habsburg: “The Hankook race tyre is ideal for our series”

62 Ferdinand Habsburg (AUT, Carlin, Dallara F317 - Volkswagen), FIA Formula 3 European Championship, round 9, Red Bull Ring (AUT), 21. - 23. September 2018

File size: 2 Mo

Ferdinand Habsburg: “The Hankook race tyre is ideal for our series”

15 Keyvan Andres (DEU, Van Amersfoort Racing, Dallara F317 - Mercedes-Benz), 77 Ben Hingeley (GBR, Hitech Bullfrog GP, Dallara F317 - Mercedes-Benz), FIA Formula 3 European Championship, round 9, race 1, Red Bull Ring (AUT), 21. - 23. September 2018

File size: 2 Mo

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