Press Release

  • Motorsport

Hankook race tyre all set for critical phase of the DTM in Spielberg

Premium tyre maker Hankook and the DTM enter the finishing straight this weekend in Spielberg, Austria. The Red Bull Ring is the venue for the penultimate round of what is probably the most popular international touring car series, and the race for the title in the Drivers’ Championship has rarely been so exciting. Almost half of the 18 drivers can still be crowned 2017 DTM champion, and fans can once again look forward to thrilling racing at the alpine circuit in the Styria region. The race tyre, which was newly-developed for this season by exclusive DTM partner Hankook, has played a major role in making it such a close battle for the championship. The Ventus Race, which offers more grip than its predecessor, gives every team the opportunity to implement individual race strategies. Its high degree of consistency makes it possible to come in very early for a tyre change, or to stay out until extremely late on in the race, thus allowing the teams to react flexibly to a wide range of race strategies.
Hankook race tyre all set for critical phase of the DTM in Spielberg

Spielberg/Austria, 19th September 2017The 4.326-kilometre stretch of asphalt in Spielberg is nestled perfectly in its mountainous surroundings, meaning it features many dramatic uphill and downhill passages. With long straights, fast corners and slower sections, the layout of the undulating track has a little of everything.

“In Spielberg, the brakes are put under a lot of strain, the top speed has to be spot on and, above all, you have to have enough traction to accelerate quickly out of the slower passages. As the circuit also features every kind of corner, you need a balanced set-up with a balanced mixture of aerodynamic and mechanical grip,” says Thomas Baltes, Hankook DTM race engineer.

The Red Bull Ring was resurfaced last year, and the new asphalt offers more grip than the old surface. However, the track heats up rather more dramatically than in recent years. This leads to higher tread temperatures on the tyre, but does not affect the performance of Hankook’s Ventus Race.

With seven right-handers and two left bends, the front-left tyre is placed under greater strain in Spielberg. Thomas Baltes: “This strain on one side can be countered with an asymmetric set-up in terms of both the car and the tyre pressure. However, this is no exceptional challenge for the running surface and construction of the Hankook race tyre. Compared to other DTM corners, the strain placed on the Ventus Race in Spielberg is fairly average,” says the Hankook DTM race engineer.

The best overtaking opportunities at the alpine circuit come in the right-hander after the start and the subsequent long, uphill straight into the Remus Hairpin. The weather has played a key role at the Red Bull Ring in the past. The drivers have experienced everything, from scorching heat to heavy showers. Thomas Baltes: “If it rains, the drivers must be aware of possible aquaplaning, particularly in the depressions after the downhill passages. However, the asphalt does dry very quickly after any showers.”

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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Hankook race tyre all set for critical phase of the DTM in Spielberg

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Contacts

Sabine Riedel

PR Manager Marketing Communications

 +49 (0) 6102 8149-178

Sabine Riedel

PR Manager Marketing Communications

 +49 (0) 6102 8149-178

Lisa Schmid

PR Manager Marketing Communications

+49 (0) 6102 8149-172

Alexander Nevinny-Stickel

PR Manager Marketing Communications

+49 (0) 6102 8149-173

Annika Malcherek

Annika Malcherek

Digital Lead Marketing Communications

+49 (0) 6102 8149-176

Stefan Prohaska

Stefan Prohaska

Digital Marketing Communications

 +49 (0) 6102 8149-171

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