Hankook Ventus “Race” with impressive debut in
Swedish TTA – Racing Elite League
 Top-drivers impressed by consistent high level of grip of Hankook slicks in challenging
weather conditions
 Saab (Linus Ohlsson), Volvo (Fredrik Ekblom) and BMW (Richard Göransson) with
podium finishes in Karlskoga
 Winner Linus Ohlsson expresses his appreciation of the tyres
Neu-Isenburg, Germany, 15 May 2012 – Hankook’s racing tyres made a successful entrance to the
Scandinavian motorsport market during the first race weekend of the Swedish TTA – Racing Elite League.
Before a cheering crowd at Karlskoga Motorstadion the Ventus “Race“ showed top performance. In
challenging weather conditions with rain and low temperatures on the track drivers were particularly
impressed with the tyres high levels of grip and consistency
As the exclusive tyre partner to the newly founded TTA- Racing Elite League Hankook provide their
renowned Ventus race line of tyres to the Swedish series as of this year. The motorsports engagement
carries a significant value for Hankook’s motorsport efforts, as it marks the company’s first presence in the
Scandinavian market. During the first TTA race weekend Hankook’s Ventus “Race” slicks and rain tyres
once more proved what they are made of: “Today we had the first race in the TTA which is a completely
new championship and we had a 40 minutes race which was challenging as a driver because we haven’t
done that before in Sweden.” explains Richard Göransson, BMW Dealer Team West Coast Racing. “It was
a great race. For me, the tyres lasted very well for these 40 minutes. I thought actually that the drop-off in
the tyres would be more during the race. Maybe it was a little bit cold today but I think it surprised us all
that the balance stayed the same all way through the race.”
The very cold weather with temperatures of below 10 degrees celsius on the track and partly heavy rain
throughout the weekend made it challenging for drivers to find the optimal working window for the slicks,
explains Hankook’s Senior Race Tyre Engineer Michael Eckert: “Due to the combination of low
temperatures and narrow track layout with many curves and directional changes, working the slicks and
bringing them to the optimal temperature was demanding for the divers this weekend. The drivers’
feedback however and also the podium made of three different manufacturers show that the tyres work well
for everyone and we are more than pleased about this successful season kick-off.”
Saturday’s competition saw Linus Ohlsson of Team Tidö/PWR Racing on Saab claiming the first ever
victory of the TTA – Racing Elite League. Linus was followed by triple Swedish champion Fredrik
Ekblom for Team Polestar Racing on Volvo and Richard Göransson for BMW Dealer Team WCR. TTA’s
top drivers were unanimously impressed by the high and consistent performance of the Ventus racing tyres.
“I am very positive because I thought I would run out of grip and I am surprised that the tyres held up so
well during the race, I didn’t really have to save the tyres at any point. I could go flat out all the time. That
also has to do with the car which was quite well balanced. The tyres proved to be above our expectations.”
explains Ekblom, Team Polestar Racing. “The tyres are very good, they hold the race very well. I thought
the tyres could be slippery and driving very difficult but I had the perfect car during the whole race and the
same pace at the end of the race. So I love the tyres.” adds Linus Ohlsson, Team Tidö/PWR Racing.
Next race of the TTA – Racing Elite League takes place at Anderstorp Raceway on the 2nd June 2012.
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About Hankook Tire
Hankook Tire is one of the world's largest and fastest growing tyre manufacturer for innovative, highquality and high-performance radial tyres for passenger cars, light trucks, SUVs, RVs, trucks, and buses as
well as motorsports (circuit racing/rallies).
The company invests some five percent of its revenues in R&D every year. In five Research and
Development centres worldwide, located in Korea, Germany, USA, China and Japan, the company
develops the very latest in market-specific, customised and innovative tyre solutions. Bespoke tyre
solutions for the European markets as well as European Original Equipment according to the requirements
of leading European car manufacturers, are developed in the company’s European Technical Centre in
Hanover/Germany. Production is taking place in the state-of-the-art European production site in
Rácalmás/Hungary which was inaugurated in June 2007. More than 2,000 employees produce more than
34,000 tyres a day (this amounts to more than twelve million tyres a year) for passenger cars, SUVs and
light trucks.
Hankook Tire’s European headquarters are located in Neu-Isenburg near Frankfurt am Main. The
manufacturer operates further branches in Europe in Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy, Spain, the
Netherlands, Hungary, Russia, Turkey, Sweden and Poland. Hankook products are sold directly through
regional distributors. Hankook Tire employ approximately 16,000 employees worldwide and are selling
their products in more than 180 countries. Internationally leading car manufacturers rely on tyres made by
Hankook Tire for their original equipment. About 80 percent of Hankook's income is generated by sales
outside Korea.
For more information please visit www.hankooktire-press.com or www.hankooktire-eu.com
Contact:
Hankook Tire Europe GmbH | Siemensstr. 5a, 63263 Neu-Isenburg | Germany
Felix Kinzer
Direktor Public Relations
Fon: +49 (0) 61 02 8149 – 170
f.kinzer@hankookreifen.de
Susanne Baun
Public Relations Europe
Fon: +49 (0) 6102 8149 – 172
s.baun@hankookreifen.de
Stefanie Weinelt
Public Relations Europe
Fon: +49 (0) 61 02 8149 – 171
s.weinelt@hankookreifen.de