For 2013, Hankook will continue its close association with Formula Drift by continuing its official sponsorship of the race series and by sponsoring five drivers and teams. Hankook’s 2013 Formula Drift team lineup will once again include Fredric Aasbo in the Papadakis Racing Speed Hunters Scion tC, Ken Gushi in the Greddy Performance Scion FR-S, Conrad Grunewald in the Conrad Grunewald Racing Chevrolet Camaro, Chris Forsberg in the Chris Forsberg Racing Nissan 370Z and new member of the Hankook Tire team roster Tyler McQuarrie in the Tyler McQuarrie Racing Go Pro Chevrolet Camaro. All of Hankook’s Formula Drift drivers will compete on Hankook’s Ventus R-S3 Extreme Performance Summer tire.
As part of Hankook’s Time Attack efforts, the company will sponsor four teams in the 2013 Redline Time Attack series: Tuner Playground, Ignition Project, Fingers Crossed and Berk Technology. Time Attack has significantly increased in popularity over the years, bringing a new audience to tracks around the country and furthering Hankook’s motorsports related presence. The four teams being sponsored will compete exclusively on Hankook racing tires including the Ventus Z214, Ventus TD, and Ventus R-S3.
2013 will also see Hankook return to the 25 Hours of Thunderhill at Thunderhill Raceway Park in Willows, Calif., with the Hankook Tire/El Diablo BMW M3 racing on Hankook’s Ventus Z214 race tires. This endurance race, the longest in the world, draws competitors and enthusiasts from around the country.
Hankook also will continue its involvement in off-road racing for 2013 with driver Tracy Rossman and the Rossman Racing Group Ford Pickup. Rossman will compete throughout the season on Hankook’s Dynapro MT off-road tire. The Dynapro MT is a street legal extreme performance off-road tire available to consumers as part of Hankook’s Light Truck / SUV tire lineup.
Rounding out Hankook’s 2013 racing efforts, the company will serve as the exclusive tire supplier for multiple racing series throughout the United States. For 2013, the Panam GP Series, with races in the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica and Ecuador, will equip its Formula 3 type Formula Abarth cars with Hankook’s Ventus F200 race tire. Also using the Hankook Ventus F200 exclusively for 2013 will be the Pacific Formula 2000 series. In addition, the Intercontinental Trophy Cup series, now part of NASA (National Auto Sport Association), will equip its Porsche Cayman based field exclusively on Hankook’s Ventus Z214 race tire.
“We will continue to increase Hankook’s brand awareness and to showcase the impressive performance of our tires through highly competitive motorsport activities,” said Paul Jho, Hankook Tire America Corp. motorsports marketing manager. “Central to this plan is the development of high-quality tires for racers and consumers alike that bring the latest in technological advances to meet the needs of drivers on the racetrack, off-road or the vehicles they drive every day.”
Hankook also will continue to support motorsports enthusiasts and racers at all levels. For 2013, Hankook will offer amateur and professional racing enthusiasts contingency program benefits and the chance to earn incentives in SCCA National Solo, ProSolo and Club Racing events, NASA regional and national races, Redline Time Attack, the Formula DRIFT Series and select off-road races.
