International endurance racing season kicks off in Abu Dhabi with the new Hankook race tyre

High-class field at Formula 1 venue Yas Marina Circuit
New Ventus Race C54 H premium tyre even better than its predecessor
Collaboration between Hankook and Creventic enters its second decade

Neu-Isenburg, Germany, 18.01.2024 – The 24H Series powered by Hankook gets the 2024 season underway on 20^th/21^st January with the 6H Abu Dhabi. The Formula 1 circuit will host a race in the internationally renowned endurance series for the fourth time, with over 40 cars set to go racing in the capital of the United Arab Emirates. At the Yas Marina Circuit, Hankook’s new tyre – the Ventus Race C54 H – will make its first appearance outside of Europe, where it enjoyed a successful debut at the Hankook 24H Barcelona in 2023. Weighing less than its predecessor, the new tyre’s softer compound gives it even more grip, allowing faster lap times. At the same time, the structure of the Ventus Race C54 H has been optimised in numerous tests and, whilst offering even better performance, boasts a similar mileage as the previous flagship, the Ventus Race F200.

The 5.281-kilometre track in the Abu Dhabi desert boasts a captivating mix of high-speed sections and technically demanding corners. One feature of the state-of-the-art facility is the pit lane exit, which runs under the track itself. In a strong field, several teams harbour aspirations of overall victory at the Hankook 6H Abu Dhabi. The winning team from the inaugural year in 2021, Car Collection Motorsport, is back for more and will be looking to repeat that triumph with the tried-and-tested Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II and a new Porsche 911 GT3 R (type 992). Last year, Herberth Motorsport fought back strongly to finish runner-up from 19^th on the grid. They are aiming to go one better and finish on the top step of the podium in Abu Dhabi with a Porsche 911 GT3 R (type 992). One team highly fancied to finish at the front end of the field is CP Racing. The team not only won the opening round of the 2023/2024 Middle East Trophy in Kuwait in December 2023, but also made history in the process. Their Mercedes-AMG GT3 crossed the finish line just 0.537 seconds clear of the second-placed car, making it the narrowest winning margin in the history of the 24H Series powered by Hankook.

The Hankook 6H Abu Dhabi is round two of the Middle East Trophy, which kicked off in December 2023 with the Hankook 12H Kuwait and concludes with the third and final event in Dubai. The traditional season-opener and endurance classic has been postponed until 26^th to 28^th January 2024, as the ships carrying the cars and equipment have had to take a major diversion due to the political unrest in the Red Sea. As a result, the Hankook 24H Dubai forms the finale of this year’s Middle East Trophy. The 24H Series powered by Hankook will then continue at five renowned circuits in Europe.

Manfred Sandbichler, Hankook Motorsport Director Europe: “Abu Dhabi marks the start of a new decade in our collaboration with promoter Creventic. We enter the eleventh year together at Yas Marina Circuit, one of the most impressive racetracks in the world. Since the start of the cooperation in 2014, the 24H Series has developed consistently and is now one of the most important endurance racing series in the world. A strong field lines up at the Hankook 6H Abu Dhabi, and all the classes will be fiercely contested. With the new and even better Ventus Race C54 H race tyre and the experienced team on site, Hankook will help ensure that spectators are treated to a motorsport spectacle at the opening event of the year.”

Hankook 6H Abu Dhabi schedule (local time)

Saturday, 20^th January

09:00 to 10:30 Free practice, all classes

17:10 - 17:25 Qualifying 1, all classes

17:30 - 17:45 Qualifying 2, all classes

17:50 - 18:05 Qualifying 3, all classes

Sunday, 21^st January

10:00 - 16:00 Hankook 6H Abu Dhabi

About Hankook Tire

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

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