Neu-Isenburg, Germany, 11th November 2025 – Round 13 of the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) — the FORUM8 Rally Japan — marked a successful conclusion on November 9 with the support of premium tyre manufacturer Hankook. As the exclusive tyre partner of the WRC, Hankook once again demonstrated its advanced tyre technology across the technically demanding stages in Japan’s Aichi and Gifu prefectures.
The Japanese round challenged crews with narrow, twisting mountain tarmac stages bordered by dense forests, where sunlight, humidity, and surface grip changed from corner to corner. Frequent fog and localized rainfall reduced visibility, while slippery leaf-covered asphalt demanded absolute precision from drivers and tyres alike.
Hankook supplied its Ventus Z215 and Ventus Z210 tarmac rally tyres for the event, ensuring consistent performance throughout the competition. The Ventus Z215 excelled on dry, high-grip sections with sharp cornering response and handling, while the Ventus Z210 proved its effectiveness in wet and adverse conditions thanks to outstanding water-dispersion capability and reliable traction. Together, they delivered the grip and control needed to navigate Japan’s dynamic mountain terrain and enabled drivers to maintain pace throughout the weekend.
Sébastien Ogier of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team clinched victory by just 11.6 seconds, securing his sixth win of the season. The result moves him to 269 points — cutting teammate Elfyn Evans’s championship lead to three points — and leaving the FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers title fight wide open ahead of Rally Saudi Arabia, the WRC’s first-ever Middle Eastern round.
Scheduled from November 25 to 29 in the Jeddah region of Saudi Arabia, the season finale — and the first WRC round in the Middle East in over a decade — will challenge crews with the desert’s extreme heat, arid climate, and rugged terrain. High-speed sections cutting across vast sand plains will mix with rocky tracks and abrasive surfaces, creating a demanding test where tyre durability, grip, and cooling performance are expected to play decisive roles.
Hankook continues to serve as the exclusive tyre supplier across all WRC classes, based on its FIA-certified high-performance rally tyres. Building on extensive data and insights collected from the world’s most demanding motorsport stages, the company remains committed to advancing its next generation racing tyre technology and strengthening its position as a premium global brand.
