MINI John Cooper Works on Hankook race tyres for its comeback at the 24-hour classic in the Eifel

Cult car to make its first appearance for ten years at the Nürburgring 24 Hours
Proven quartet at the wheel of the 306-hp car
The iconic Nürburgring is like a second home for the Hankook Ventus Race tyre

Neu-Isenburg, Germany, 26.05.2022 – The legendary Nürburgring 24 Hours is one of the highlights of the endurance season for motorsport fans all over the world. This weekend (26^th to 29^th May) sees the 50^th staging of the classic race, which will feature a MINI John Cooper Works for the first time for ten years. The race car, based on the cult British car and run by the Bulldog Racing team, will be supported by Hankook with the high-end Ventus Race tyre, which has proven itself in numerous endurance races.

Bulldog Racing launched its Nürburgring 24 Hours project in the Eifel region in September 2021. The MINI John Cooper Works has been adapted to meet the demands of the endurance marathon. The modifications include increasing the size of the tank to 100 litres, constructing a new racing cage and altering the aerodynamics. As such, the MINI John Cooper Works is well-equipped for the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Nürburgring, where the team will have its sights set on victory in the SP 3T class, as the car makes its comeback on Hankook race tyres after an absence of ten years.

Sharing the cockpit of the 112 car will be Austrian Markus Fischer and the German trio of Jens Dralle (Schorndorf), Danny Brink (Külsheim) and Uwe Krumscheid (Adenau). Hankook’s subjective test driver Krumscheid knows the Nürburgring well and supervises the workshop at the Hankook Europe Technical Center (ETC) in Meuspath at the Nürburgring. Together with other Hankook development drivers, he tests new tyre developments at the nearby racetrack, particularly developments in the field of high-end original equipment, including for very sporty BMW M models. Krumscheid will be making his 16th appearance in the 24-hour race on the 25.378-kilometre combination of the Grand Prix Circuit and the Nordschleife. “This unique endurance race is always a fantastic challenge. It's great to compete in this legendary classic in the MINI John Cooper Works on the Hankook Ventus Race tyre,” said Krumscheid, looking forward to the 50th staging of the spectacular race in the Eifel.

Manfred Sandbichler, Hankook Motorsport Director Europe: “Hankook has supported many teams at the Nürburgring 24 Hours in the past. However, it is rather special when a cult car like the MINI John Cooper Works returns to the Eifel on our Ventus Race tyre after a long time away. The Nürburgring is something of a home circuit for Hankook. I am confident that the MINI John Cooper Works, with the Hankook race tyre, the highly-motivated Bulldog Racing team and an experienced crew, will have a great Nürburgring 24 Hours.”

The BMW M Group is putting on many special events at the Nürburgring to mark its 50^th anniversary, including at the large “M Town” activity area on the ring°boulevard. The Nürburgring 24 Hours takes place from 26^th to 29^th May. You can find information on the race results online at https://www.24h-rennen.de/.

Photos: Bernhard Filser

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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