Hankook Tire extends DTM partnership for three years

The Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters will continue to use Hankook tyres until the end of 2019, having extended the existing partnership for another three years.

Hans Werner Aufrecht, chairman of ITR e.V, DTM promoter and Ho-Youl Pae, Head of Hankook Europe, announced the deal today in Hockenheim, host of the 2016 season opening event.

Ho-Youl Pae said: “DTM is the most successful touring car series internationally. The direct involvement of the three premium manufacturers Audi, BMW and Mercedes Benz means that there is no similar power density anywhere else in motor sport, particularly at the highest technical level possible. We are proud that DTM will enter a new era from 2017 with us as their exclusive tyre manufacturer. We will continue to reinforce their trust in us.”

Hans Werner Aufrecht highlighted the quality of the technical input from Hankook in order to help the international expansion of the DTM: “The trusting cooperation with Hankook, the performance capability of the company and its tyre technology has led to us extending our partnership with Hankook. With regard to further internationalization and future technical regulations, the professionalism which we have come to know and expect from our tyre partner Hankook is a major factor.”

Hankook and Audi, Mercedes and BMW, the three manufacturers officially involved in the DTM, already worked on a prototype for a new compound for 2017 during the official ITR pre-season tests held at the Baden-Wüttemberg track in April.