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.”