Press Release

  • Motorsport

The Audi Sport Seyffahrt R8 LMS Cup enters its second season with Rahel Frey and the Hankook race tyre

The Audi Sport Seyffahrt R8 LMS Cup kicked off its second season at last weekend’s DTM opener at the Hockenheimring. The one-make cup is held over seven race weekends. At five of these, the professionals, juniors and gentlemen drivers feature on the support programme for arguably the most popular international touring car series. As it did last year, premium tyre maker Hankook supplies the Audi Sport Seyffahrt R8 LMS Cup with the successful Ventus Race tyre and supports the teams with its technical expertise.
The Audi Sport Seyffahrt R8 LMS Cup enters its second season with Rahel Frey and the Hankook race tyre

Hockenheim/Germany, 9th May 2019 – The most familiar face in the Audi Sport Seyffahrt R8 LMS Cup is that of Rahel Frey. In 2009, the Swiss driver became the first woman ever to win a race in the German Formula 3 Cup. She then switched to GT racing and spent two years competing in the DTM. For her, this season’s Audi Sport Seyffahrt R8 LMS Cup is about more than just race wins and podiums. As coach and mentor, Frey will also be on hand to offer advice to the young drivers as they take their first steps in motorsport.

“In the Audi Sport Seyffahrt R8 LMS Cup, I not only keep my eye on what is happening on the track, as a racing driver. For me, it is also exciting to see whether the young drivers stick to what we have discussed. I must not necessarily be crowned champion of this series, I can win races elsewhere. However, I will obviously fight hard in every race and will not be pulling any punches, as the youngsters must work hard to earn what they get – just as I do. Our goal is to put on a great show for the spectators in every race,” says Frey.

The 33-year-old’s main task will be to help her protégés find the right balance between tactics and aggression. “Many show too much caution in the races. You really have to persuade them to take full advantage of support systems like ABS. On the other hand, some drivers are too aggressive and wear the car and tyres down too quickly with their style of driving. In that case, I have to try to work with the drivers to find a reasonable compromise.”

The Swiss feels the race tyre provided by premium tyre maker Hankook is the ideal partner for the Audi Sport Seyffahrt R8 LMS Cup. “I know the Hankook race tyre and have always really enjoyed driving on it. You have a good peak in qualifying, then honest feedback in the race. The tyre lets you know when you are asking for too much, but also forgives mistakes. This allows newcomers to learn a lot about tyre management.”

Rahel Frey is one of a few women to have established herself in motorsport, but still sees great potential for more development in what is largely a male domain. “Not a lot has changed for us since I started out in motorsport 20 years ago. That is why it is so great to have the W Series, which is for women only. I would have been delighted to have had an opportunity like that when I was younger. They could obviously also have systematically invested the money in just one or two female drivers. However, this gives a lot of women the opportunity to show what they are capable of on a big stage.”

As well as the Audi Sport Seyffahrt R8 LMS Cup, the Audi works driver is also actively involved in GT racing and lines up in more than 20 races per season. In Switzerland, she and her sisters run a car dealership – it is all about four wheels for the 33-year-old. “I am happy with what I am doing. When I am at home at the weekend, I take my mountain bike and go for a ride into the mountains, in order to stay fit for my work. Work takes priority for us Swiss. We are a bit crazy in that regard.”

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

all press releases

Downloads

The Audi Sport Seyffahrt R8 LMS Cup enters its second season with Rahel Frey and the Hankook race tyre

Rahel Frey, Audi Sport Seyffarth R8 LMS Cup, Hockenheim 1, 03.-05. May 2019

File size: 2 MB

The Audi Sport Seyffahrt R8 LMS Cup enters its second season with Rahel Frey and the Hankook race tyre

Rahel Frey, Audi Sport Seyffarth R8 LMS Cup, Hockenheim 1, 03.-05. May 2019

File size: 1 MB

The Audi Sport Seyffahrt R8 LMS Cup enters its second season with Rahel Frey and the Hankook race tyre

Podium, Matthias Kämpf, Jedrzej Szczesniak, Rahel Frey, Fabio Citignola, Audi Sport Seyffarth R8 LMS Cup, Hockenheim 1, 03.-05. May 2019

File size: 3 MB

The Audi Sport Seyffahrt R8 LMS Cup enters its second season with Rahel Frey and the Hankook race tyre

Start Race 2, Robin Rogalski, Rahel Frey, Audi Sport Seyffarth R8 LMS Cup, Hockenheim 1, 03.-05. May 2019

File size: 1 MB

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

Subscribe to the Hankook press releases