Neu-Isenburg, Germany, 15 January 2025 – Global premium tyre manufacturer Hankook will exclusively supply rallying tyres for all three classes, WRC1, WRC2 and WRC3, for three years, beginning with the 2025 season of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC).
The WRC, one of the world's top three motorsports competitions, alongside Formula 1, is renowned for its extreme rallies across diverse terrains worldwide. In the 2025 season, three car brands - Hyundai, Toyota and Ford - will compete across four continents, Europe, Africa, South America, and Asia, for the championship title.
Unlike circuit racing, which takes place on paved roads, WRC events require participants to navigate designated starting and ending points through challenging terrains, such as unpaved, snowy, and muddy roads, each at maximum speeds of 124 mph (200 km/h) and 8,500 rpm. Tyre durability and consistent performance are considered the most important strategic elements of these competitions.
All participating cars will be equipped with the Ventus Z215, which provides the best cornering and handling performance in both dry and wet conditions; the Ventus Z210, designed for excellent grip in adverse weather, including wet roads; and the Dynapro R213, an all-weather rally tyre with excellent shock absorption, durability, and grip on unpaved roads.
In addition, the Winter i*cept SR20, which provides the best grip on snowy roads in winter, and the Winter i*Pike SR10W, equipped with a special stud pin optimised for slippery ice, will also be installed to support extreme galloping perfectly.
Through its partnership with the WRC, Hankook becomes one of the few brands to sponsor two of the five major FIA world championships including the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the premier electric vehicle racing series. The agreement to exclusively supply WRC tyres was signed at Hankook’s Technoplex headquarters in South Korea, in November 2024.
This milestone reflects Hankook’s top-tier racing tyre technology, honed through sponsorships of more than 70 global motorsports competitions. Hankook was first selected as an official WRC tyre supplier in 2014. The company’s recognition for technological innovation in rally events like the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) and FIA Junior ERC culminated in this exclusive WRC partnership.
Hankook will start supplying the WRC, Junior WRC and Swedish Rally Championship in 2025, ensuring consistent tyre performance even under unpredictable race conditions. This partnership will further strengthen Hankook’s reputation as a premium tyre brand while showcasing its cutting-edge technology to motorsports fans worldwide.
"We have already established a successful partnership with Hankook through the ERC, and we are very excited to extend it to the WRC," said Jona Siebel, Managing Director of WRC Promoter GmbH. "Hankook Tire has been working hard to develop tyres to meet the special needs of the WRC, and we are very much looking forward to its debut performance at the Monte Carlo Rally in January."
The 2025 WRC competition will feature 14 rounds across Europe, Africa, South America, and Asia, starting with the 'Rallye Monte-Carlo' in Monaco from January 23 to 26.
Photo 1 From left to right - Hankook Tire Vice Chairman & CEO Sooil Lee, WRC Promoter Managing Director Jona Siebel
Photo 2 From left to right - Hankook Tire Motorsports Marketing Vice President Youngsoo Kim, Hankook Tire Europe President & COO Sanghoon Lee, Hankook Tire Vice Chairman & CEO Sooil Lee, WRC Promoter Managing Director Jona Siebel, WRC Promoter Senior Director Sport Peter Thul and WRC Promoter Account Director Marketing Services Stephanie von Veltheim when the agreement was signed in November 2024.
