Successful end to the season for the FIA Formula 3 European Championship and Hankook in Hockenheim

The 2016 FIA Formula 3 European Championship draws to a close at the final DTM race weekend of the season at the Hockenheimring. The 22 drivers from 12 different countries now have 27 races behind them this year, and will contest the final three races at the iconic 4.574-kilometre circuit in the Hardtwald forest near Heidelberg. Canadian Lance Stroll wrapped up the championship two weeks ago in Imola. Premium tyre maker Hankook has been supporting what is probably the toughest junior Formula series in the world by providing the Ventus Race tyre since 2012, and will continue to accompany the talented young racing drivers on their road to the top until at least 2019.

Hockenheim/Germany, 15 October 2016 – Newly-crowned FIA Formula 3 European champion Lance Stroll gained his first motorsport experience on the karting scene, where he was successful even as an eight-year-old. The Canadian’s first big breakthrough came in 2014, when he won the Italian Formula 4 Championship. He followed this with victory in the Toyota Racing Series, before Lance joined the FIA Formula 3 European Championship in 2015.

Here, the young driver put a disappointing first half of the season behind him, before claiming his first victory in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship in his debut season. “That gave me a lot of confidence for the season ahead in our fiercely-competitive Formula series,” said the 17-year-old, who is not only extremely talented but also a hard worker. He keeps to a strict diet, is often to be found in the gym, and spends a lot of time away from the racetrack skiing, snowboarding, cycling or playing hockey and tennis.

This season, Lance Stroll was the man to beat in what is probably the toughest junior Formula series in the world, and wrapped up the title two weeks ago in Imola. The new champion feels premium tyre maker Hankook’s race tyre was one of the key factors in his success. “I owe a lot of my success to Hankook. I have contested more than 60 races with the Hankook race tyre in this series, and have never had a puncture or any kind of problem. The tyres have been fast without fail and ultra-consistent. I am very grateful to Hankook,” said the 17-year-old.

Now living in Geneva, Lance Stroll’s biggest role model is Michael Schumacher, who he used to watch in Formula 1 on TV as a child. As such, it is only logical that his sights are set on a seat at the pinnacle of motor racing. “I want to make it into Formula 1 and have already test driven a 2014 Williams. That showed me that the FIA Formula 3 European Championship is a very good preparation for Formula 1, and that I am ready for this challenge.”

Manfred Sandbichler, Hankook Motorsport Director Europe: “It has been a great season in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship, with a deserved winner in Lance Stroll. The standard in this Formula series is incredibly high, and the teams and drivers are utterly professional. We are pleased to be able to continue to accompany these talented young drivers over the coming years, and to help them on their way to a successful motorsport career with our know-how and high-performance race tyres.”

About Hankook Tire

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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