Elfyn Evans claims maiden WRC title on Hankook tyres
The battle for the 2026 WRC crown was decided on the very last special stage of Rally Italia Sardegna. After 13 events around the globe, Welshman Elfyn Evans and his co-driver Scott Martin from England emerged victorious in the championship battle. Fifth place at the season finale was enough for the duo to claim their maiden FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) title, having previously finished runners-up on five occasions. Evans’ Swedish rival Oliver Solberg lost crucial seconds on the demanding gravel stages of the Mediterranean island.
The changing conditions in Sardinia placed high demands on the rally tyres supplied by exclusive partner Hankook. Grip and durability were crucial on loose surfaces and challenging gravel sections. The premium tyre manufacturer's products supported the competitors throughout the season and once again provided the foundation for the battle for the final championship points. Solberg and his co-driver Elliott Edmondson (GBR) claimed victory in the rally, finishing 57.6 seconds ahead of Frenchman Sébastien Ogier. Finland's Sami Pajari took third place to complete an all-Toyota podium.
Day 1 highlights: youtu.be/Ur8GdO3WNaM
Day 2 highlights: youtu.be/XqR7-u5IsXM
Day 3 highlights: youtu.be/xvPqGd6FfPs
Day 4 highlights: https://youtu.be/9Bw8W_LuGYc?si=VIYCAuGjw1F2d37L
Kasper Schormans celebrates hat-trick in Navarra
Three victories, two pole positions and two fastest race laps: Kasper Schormans dominated the penultimate round of the F4 Spanish Championship in Navarra from 9 to 11 October. The MP Motorsport driver from the Netherlands extended his lead in the drivers’ standings from seven to 53 points. In the third race, he prevailed in a thrilling duel with title rival Noah Monteiro (POR), crossing the finish line just 0.568 seconds ahead.
The young talents relied on the racing tyres supplied by exclusive partner Hankook during their qualifying battles and closely fought races. With precise handling and consistent grip, the tyres provided the drivers with optimum support. MP Motorsport secured its eighth teams’ title with a round to spare, making it the most successful team in the championship's history. The drivers’ title will be decided at the season finale in Barcelona from 6 to 8 November.
Highlights: https://youtu.be/KzJ_xb1XgqA?si=Uxesql15QWHrFlWt
Re-Live race 1: https://www.youtube.com/live/n3x-qWtH73k?si=JakIof_veKSlb-4u
Re-Live race 2: https://www.youtube.com/live/O-641q44FwE?si=Yod-eTb22UPyrpwX
Re-Live race 3: https://www.youtube.com/live/AnWwkFdTJb8?si=99wT-zxXtIPV2mMJ
Thrilling title showdown at Ligier JS Cup France finale in Nogaro
15 Ligier JS2 R cars, cool temperatures and a damp track: The Ligier JS Cup France season finale on 17 October at Circuit Paul Armagnac in Nogaro presented the competitors with a number of challenges. In the Elite category, French drivers Romain Boeckler, Sean Canivet and Arthur Fournier came out on top in the SRT car to claim their first victory of the season. However, the championship title went to the Zosh trio of Maxence Chatellier (FR), Keanu Lieutaud (FR) and Maximilien Menu (FR), whose consistent results throughout the year proved decisive. Zosh also secured the Gentleman title, with Guillaume Brichard (FR) and Romain Lavocat (FR) finishing the season at the top of the standings, whilst Marc Bonnet (FR) and Margaux Verza (FR) of Ecurie Française won the final race.
The interaction between car and tyres was particularly important in the autumnal track conditions. The exclusively supplied Hankook racing tyres allowed the drivers to maintain control on the damp asphalt. Another title was up for grabs in the Ligier Junior programme. With six podium finishes from six races, Frenchman Naël Marin-Dubuard was crowned champion. His XP Racing team-mate Robin Burgy (FR) rounded off the season in style with victory in the final race.
Father-and-son duo secure championship title on Hankook tyres
Seven class victories from seven events: Sven Markert and Lars Harbeck had an impressive record in the 2026 Rundstrecken-Challenge Nürburgring (RCN). At the traditional three-hour “Schwedenkreuz” race on 24 October, the father-and-son duo secured the overall championship title in their BMW 320i. Despite taking a class victory at the finale, Jens Schneider and Robin Reimer had to settle for the runner-up spot in the championship. Christian Koch finished third in the overall standings in his BMW 325i.
Almost 140 teams lined up for the final 180 minutes of racing of the year in cool temperatures and initially partly wet track conditions. The Hankook tyres delivered reliable performance as grip levels changed. Janina and Ralf Schall took an early lead in the race in their Porsche 911 GT3 Cup and claimed victory by just over a minute ahead of David Vogt and Marc Basseng in an Opel Astra TCR. Even a brief rain shower towards the end of the race failed to change the running order.
Day 1 highlights: https://youtu.be/zu1ot_U8ZJ4?si=S6m8BqBtmS3ltlRR
Day 2 highlights: https://youtu.be/HttiaORqrb4?si=SAs42C7H5eLFghhL
Day 3 highlights: https://youtu.be/DDsC4GiwJXg?si=gqDq17XkHJTKciG8
Timo Schulz crowned Junior ERC champion with Hankook
The FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) season finale from 23 to 25 October provided excitement right down to the final kilometre at the Rally 6 Cities North of Portugal. Latvians Mārtiņš Sesks and his co-driver Renārs Francis celebrated their fifth ERC victory on the gravel stages in the north of the country. Teemu Suninen from Finland had already secured the ERC title at the previous event in Wales and opted not to compete in Portugal.
The final championship battles of the season also took place in Junior ERC, which is contested exclusively on Hankook rally tyres. Norway's Karl Peder Nordstrand provided a particular highlight, claiming his maiden victory in the junior category alongside his co-driver Jonas Andersson from Sweden in an Opel Corsa Rally4. The challenging gravel stages in Portugal placed particularly high demands on the premium tyre manufacturer's products, which provided the young talents with the traction needed to set fast times. Second place was enough for Germany's Timo Schulz and his co-driver Maresa Lade to secure both the Junior ERC and ERC4 titles. As a reward for his successful season, Schulz will have the opportunity to compete in the FIA Junior WRC in 2027.
Day 1 highlights: https://youtu.be/zu1ot_U8ZJ4?si=S6m8BqBtmS3ltlRR
Day 2 highlights: https://youtu.be/HttiaORqrb4?si=SAs42C7H5eLFghhL
Day 3 highlights: https://youtu.be/DDsC4GiwJXg?si=gqDq17XkHJTKciG8
Brendon Leitch and Nicolas Stati win World Finals on Hankook tyres
From 21 to 25 October, the Autodromo Nazionale Monza hosted the final races of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe season, followed by the World Finals. With its long straights, fast corners and heavy braking zones, the high-speed circuit also placed considerable demands on the exclusively supplied Hankook racing tyres. Grip and high performance were particularly important under braking for the chicanes and when accelerating out of them.
Italy's Simone Iaquinta and Kevin Gilardoni from Switzerland secured the European Pro title. Czech driver Bronislav Formánek and South Africa's Anthony Pretorius also had plenty to celebrate: Not only did the duo win the European Pro-Am championship, they also went on to triumph in their class at the World Finals. In the Pro category, Brendon Leitch from New Zealand and Australian Nicolas Stati came out on top. After finishing second on Saturday, the duo fought their way from ninth on the grid to victory in Sunday's decisive race to secure the title.
Re-Live race 1 (Europe): https://www.youtube.com/live/U4P54NmHD6M?si=K5HF9pkcpR1avkP5
Re-Live race 2 (Europe): https://www.youtube.com/live/si1EHirl-sc?si=1oA92ssDW4eqP5lC
Re-Live race 1 (World): https://www.youtube.com/live/T7cOSz0cvew?si=fPFO_m8lZ7EMVS2m
Re-Live race 2 (World): https://www.youtube.com/live/mqMOyUccPkg?si=PrSn-4XfDuPMre1g
Successful end to the season with Hankook at GR Cup Spain in Madrid
The battle for the 2026 GR Cup Spain title remained exciting right up to the final race. At the season finale at Circuito de Madrid Jarama-RACE, Marco Aguilera (ESP) secured the championship after claiming five victories during the season. Whilst Joan Vinyes Dabad from Andorra won the opening race, Aguilera had to settle for fifth place. In the second race, the Spaniard fought his way from ninth to second following a grid penalty, aided by the grip of his Hankook tyres, and sealed the championship title with the fastest race lap. Marcos de Diego (ESP) claimed the final victory of the season ahead of Aguilera and Antonio Albacete (ESP).
The Toyota GR86 Circuit Pack cars engaged in numerous closely fought battles around the twisty circuit. The Hankook racing tyres provided the necessary grip and reliable traction, particularly when accelerating out of slow corners. Five different race winners underlined the competitive nature of the third season of the Spanish one-make cup.
Double victory and teams’ title for Palou Motorsport at the Hungaroring
Palou Motorsport enjoyed a successful Eurocup-3 weekend at the Hungaroring (23–25 October), claiming two race victories and securing the teams’ championship title with a round to spare. On Saturday, Brazilian driver Heitor Dall’Agnol took his maiden victory in the series, benefiting from the grip of his Hankook tyres. The following day, his American team-mate James Egozi won from pole position, setting a new record with his ninth victory of the season. Dall’Agnol completed the one-two finish ahead of Keanu Al Azhari (UAE).
Fast qualifying laps were particularly important at the twisty Hungaroring, where overtaking is notoriously difficult. The Hankook racing tyres provided the young drivers with the grip needed for precise handling and closely fought battles for position. Whilst the drivers’ and teams’ titles have already been decided, the rookie championship remains wide open between René Lammers, Ean Eyckmans and Dall’Agnol. The title will be decided at the season finale in Barcelona from 6 to 8 November.
Highlights: https://youtu.be/IDZ3UwQaY2c?si=nmEggQarRRDTq4Kv
Re-Live race 1: https://www.youtube.com/live/xGjoDEl7US4?si=dQuTPLTsSqEQWavk
Re-Live race 2: https://www.youtube.com/live/cP6KJJR4jkw?si=Z6iHOZqC0vxVwSNe
Hankook rewards teams at TCR Italy season finale in Mugello
Together with ACI Sport, Hankook had prepared a special initiative for the competitors: Every car entered for the entire championship received a complimentary set of Hankook racing tyres. In doing so, the governing body and exclusive tyre supplier recognised the commitment of the teams that had remained loyal to the series throughout the year.
Michele Imberti (ITA) rounded off his early championship triumph with his fourth victory of the season. The Hyundai driver fought his way from eighth on the grid to the front in Mugello and claimed victory ahead of Giacomo Prandelli and Marco Pellegrini (both ITA), despite a race interruption and strong competition. Cosimo Barberini (ITA) won the opening race. The circuit's fast corners and elevation changes placed high demands on the exclusively supplied Hankook racing tyres. Francesco Miotto (ITA) secured the DSG championship title.
Home victory on Hankook tyres puts Griebel back on top of DRM standings
A lead of more than 20 seconds was by no means enough for Marijan Griebel to relax at the ADAC Saarland-Pfalz Rallye. On 30 and 31 October, the local favourite faced a determined challenge from Philip Geipel as he pursued his sixth consecutive home victory. Griebel and his co-driver Ella Kremer had established the lead in their Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 on Friday. However, Geipel and his co-driver Jennifer Lerch upped the pace on Saturday. Six fastest stage times brought the Toyota duo ever closer to the lead. Griebel withstood the pressure and held on to take victory. The result also saw him regain the lead in the German Rally Championship (DRM). Geipel finished second ahead of Björn Satorius and Dutchman Jorie Christiaens in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.
The 154.2 kilometres of special stages featured fast asphalt roads, gravel sections and crests that sent the cars high into the air at times. Sunshine and dry conditions allowed the competitors to maintain a high pace. Hankook rally tyres were used exclusively in the RC2 class, where they had to provide traction and stability on the varied stages, particularly during rapid changes of direction and when accelerating out of corners. The overall DRM title will not be decided until the season finale in the Lausitz region.
