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Hankook race tyres help Maro Engel to claim first DTM win after starting from second last place

The second half of the 2017 DTM season started with a thrilling and spectacular race at the Moscow Raceway on Sunday. Maro Engel celebrated his first win in what is probably the most popular international touring car series. The Mercedes-Benz driver completed the mandatory tyre change on the first lap, and this strategy proved successful. The 29-year-old made the most of the fast and consistent dry-weather tyre from premium partner Hankook to progress to the head of the field. He recorded a personal best on the last lap and crossed the finishing line in first place after 36 laps. Second place was claimed by Mattias Ekström (Audi), who returned to the top of the drivers’ standings.
Hankook race tyres help Maro Engel to claim first DTM win after starting from second last place

Moscow/Russia, 23rd July 2017 – Maro Engel started Sunday’s race at the Moscow Raceway from the second last position on the grid and was not afraid to risk everything with an early pit-stop strategy. The Hankook Ventus Race tyre rewarded this courageous approach, as its high level of grip and extremely consistent performance helped the Mercedes-Benz driver to mount an unbelievable chase. Maro Engel took the lead on lap 23 without the burden of an outstanding pit stop, and defended his position to the finish.

Mattias Ekström had started Sunday’s race in Moscow from second place and had moved into the lead on lap twelve, before slipping back again after his mandatory pit stop. The fresh set of Hankook tyres then helped the Swedish driver to make some spectacular overtaking manoeuvres but it was not quite enough to claim victory. However, a second-place finish enabled him to reclaim the lead in the overall standings.

Pole-setter Bruno Spengler secured third place right at the death. On the final lap, the BMW driver overtook team-mate Marco Wittmann to claim the third podium position. The reigning DTM champion was also caught and passed by René Rast (Audi), who finished fourth and is now second in the drivers’ rankings, just one point behind Ekström. Lucas Auer (Mercedes-Benz) is in third place.

Manfred Sandbichler, Hankook Motorsport Director Europe: “The spectators at the Moscow Raceway once again enjoyed motorsport of the highest quality. There were thrilling battles for position, the lead changed hands on several occasions and we had a surprise winner. The strong and consistent performance of the Hankook race tyre mean that even those drivers who start from the back of the grid can have a chance of winning, with the right race strategy. That makes the DTM even more spectacular and exciting than before.”

The Audi Sport Team Phoenix recorded the fastest pit stop at the Moscow Raceway with a time of 38.950 seconds, which is rewarded with 25 points in the overall standings as part of the Best Pit Stop Award from Hankook. The victorious crew will also get three crates of beer at the next DTM race weekend in Zandvoort.

Maro Engel (Mercedes-Benz): “The Hankook tyres were great and lasted fantastically well. The good balance of the car played its part there. I drove my best time on the final lap, which shows that our tyre management was perfect. This was the key to victory.”

Mattias Ekström (Audi): “The race was shortened by the long Safety Car phase. Everything was fine with the tyres.”

Bruno Spengler (BMW): “The Hankook tyres played a decisive role today. I was a bit unlucky as the Safety Car came out early while I was in the lead, which pushed the field closer back together. The tyres were very good, especially after my pit stop. I had a fast second stint and I am very pleased with my podium finish.”

Hankook produceert wereldwijd innovatieve, prijswinnende high performance radiaalbanden voor het premium segment voor auto's, SUV's, terreinwagens, lichte vrachtwagens, vrachtwagens en bussen evenals voor de autosport (circuit- en straatracen/rally's).

Hankook investeert voortdurend in onderzoek en ontwikkeling om haar klanten steeds de hoogste kwaliteit in combinatie met uitstekende technologie te bieden. In vijf ontwikkelingscentra en acht grote fabrieken wereldwijd ontwikkelt en produceert Hankook bandoplossingen, die specifiek zijn afgestemd op de wensen en eisen van de regionale markten. In Europa vindt de bandontwikkeling voor de lokale markten en eerste montage plaats in overeenstemming met de toonaangevende Europese autofabrikanten in het regionale technisch centrum in Hannover/Duitsland. De banden worden onder andere geproduceerd in de ultramoderne Europese fabriek in Rácalmás/ Hongarije, die in 2007 werd ingewijd en voortdurend uitgebreid wordt.

Het Europese hoofdkwartier van de bandenfabrikant is gevestigd in Neu-Isenburg, Duitsland in de buurt van Frankfurt am Main. De fabrikant heeft meerdere vestigingen in verschillende Europese landen en verkoopt haar producten op andere lokale markten via regionale distributeurs. Wereldwijd biedt Hankook werk aan ongeveer 20.000 mensen en levert haar producten in meer dan 160 landen. Het bedrijf is geselecteerd als de technische partner en exclusieve bandenleverancier van Generatie 3 voor het FIA ABB Formule E Wereldkampioenschap, dat start in 2023. Toonaangevende autofabrikanten vertrouwen bij de eerste montage op banden van Hankook. Ongeveer 38 procent van de wereldwijde omzet van de onderneming is afkomstig uit Europa.

Verdere informatie vindt u via www.hankooktire-mediacenter.com of www.hankooktire.com

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

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Hankook race tyres help Maro Engel to claim first DTM win after starting from second last place

Moskow, : Motorsports: DTM race in Moscow on July, 23, 2017, Germany: DTM race in Moscow, Moskau (Photo by Hoch Zwei)

File size: 2 MB

Hankook race tyres help Maro Engel to claim first DTM win after starting from second last place

Moskow, : Motorsports: DTM race in Moscow on July, 23, 2017, Germany: DTM race in Moscow, Moskau (Photo by Hoch Zwei)

File size: 1 MB

Hankook race tyres help Maro Engel to claim first DTM win after starting from second last place

Moskow, : Motorsports: DTM race in Moscow on July, 23, 2017, Germany: DTM race in Moscow, Moskau (Photo by Hoch Zwei)

File size: 1 MB

Hankook race tyres help Maro Engel to claim first DTM win after starting from second last place

Moskow, : Motorsports: DTM race in Moscow on July, 23, 2017, Germany: DTM race in Moscow, Moskau (Photo by Hoch Zwei)

File size: 1 MB

Hankook race tyres help Maro Engel to claim first DTM win after starting from second last place

Moskow, : Motorsports: DTM race in Moscow on July, 23, 2017, Germany: DTM race in Moscow, Moskau (Photo by Hoch Zwei)

File size: 963 KB

Hankook race tyres help Maro Engel to claim first DTM win after starting from second last place

Moskow, : Motorsports: DTM race in Moscow on July, 23, 2017, Germany: DTM race in Moscow, Moskau (Photo by Hoch Zwei)

File size: 1 MB

Hankook race tyres help Maro Engel to claim first DTM win after starting from second last place

Moskow, : Motorsports: DTM race in Moscow on July, 23, 2017, Germany: DTM race in Moscow, Moskau (Photo by Hoch Zwei)

File size: 1 MB

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