Michelle Halder on course for success in the Audi Sport Seyffarth R8 LMS Cup on Hankook race tyres

The Audi Sport Seyffarth R8 LMS Cup enjoyed a successful debut 14 days ago, with two exciting races in Hockenheim. This weekend, races three and four of the one-make cup, which was launched at the start of 2018, feature on the same bill as the DTM at the Lausitzring. Professionals, juniors and gentlemen drivers all line up together in the new series, which premium tyre maker Hankook exclusively provides with the Ventus Race tyre. Michelle Halder is one of two female drivers in the field and is out to gain valuable experience of touring car racing in the Audi Sport Seyffarth R8 LMS Cup.

Klettwitz/Germany, 20th May 2018 – Michelle Halder grew up around motorsport. As a child, the kart track was like a second home to her. When she was just two years old, she accompanied her parents to watch her older brother Mike racing on weekends. At just five, she took her place at the wheel of a kart for the first time. “Right from the word go, motor racing was my passion. I never wanted to do anything else. When I was 14, I was the best-placed German in fifth place in the Kart X30 world championship. One year later, I moved into Formula 4,” says Halder, who lives in Messkirch by Lake Constance.

This season, the 18-year-old has switched to touring car racing. She drives a 495-hp, 1450-kilogram racer in the Audi Sport Seyffarth R8 LMS Cup and also competes in ADAC TCR Germany. It was in this series three weeks ago that she claimed her biggest success so far, when she finished runner-up in both races. “I benefitted from the tips I received from my brother, who has a lot of experience in touring car racing. Without him, that kind of success would not be possible,” says the prospective media designer.

Today, Halder has been completely accepted by her male colleagues and rivals. “That was not always the case at first and I had to prove myself. In the meantime, the men have recognised that there are also fast women in motor racing,” explains the Audi driver.

Halder is very familiar with the Hankook race tyre, as the premium tyre maker is exclusive partner of the Audi Sport Seyffarth R8 LMS Cup and ADAC TCR Germany. “It is incredible fun to drive on the Hankook tyre. It is very consistent and the balance remains the same throughout the entire race. You can set fast lap times right up until the finish without the tyre wearing. As such, you can focus fully on your race.”

The young racing driver has set her sights on as many podium finishes as possible this season. In the long term, she wants to convert her passion into a profession. “My dream, as is presumably the case for any racing driver, is to drive in Formula 1 at some point. However, that is obviously very difficult. Everything must come together perfectly. I would be happy if I could earn a living in motorsport later on, as a works driver, for example.”

Over Hankook Tire

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.

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