After celebrating its most successful motorsports season to date, Hankook Tire plans to get back on the track in 2010, continuing its participation in professional drifting and time attack competition and re-establishing a contingency reward program for grassroots racing enthusiasts.
The company will again sponsor Formula Drift’s Team Papadakis and Dynamic Autosports, expanding its stable of teams to include Conrad Grunewald Racing. Team driver and owner Conrad Grunewald will drive one of the few American muscle cars in Formula Drift – a 2010 Camaro SS equipped with a set of Ventus R-S3 tires.
“Conrad is a proven drift racer and intense competitor,” says Jason Kim, Hankook’s motorsports marketing manager. “We are confident he will prove to be a valuable addition to our team and will contribute to Hankook’s growing success in motorsports.”
Dynamic Autosports returns with its current driver lineup: 2009 Rookie of Year Eric O’Sullivan, Robbie Nishida and Ryuji Miki. O’Sullivan will pilot the Rockstar Energy Drink/Hankook Tire Subaru WRX Sti, looking to claim his first win in his sophomore season. Nishida once again will be behind the wheel of Dynamics’ Nissan 350Z, while Miki will navigate his A’PEXi/Hankook Mazda RX-7.
“Hankook is a valued sponsor, and its racing tires have contributed greatly to our team’s growing success over the duration of our partnership,” says team owner Eddie Kim.
“We look forward to adding to that winning record in 2010,” he adds. “We can’t wait to get Robbie, Eric and Ryuji back on the track with a set of Ventus R-S3s under them after last season’s breakout performances.”
The tire maker will continue to sponsor former two-time Formula Drift champion Tanner Foust in his Rockstar/Scion tC, as he looks to capture his third title in the series.
Hankook’s Formula Drift-sponsored drivers climbed onto the podium in six out of seven races during the 2009 season.
In time attack, Hankook’s 2010 driver lineup includes Gary Sheehan from GST Motorsport, Jonathan Bomorito from Sierra Sierra Enterprise and World Racing’s Chris Rado.
All of Hankook’s time attack drivers will compete on Ventus Z214 DOT R Compound tires.
“Each year drifting, time attack and grassroots motorsports – including club racing and autocross competitions – continue to grow and gain popularity in the U.S. and influence the marketplace,” says Bill Bainbridge, director of brand communications.
“This is in spite of these challenging economic times,” he explains. “Hankook will continue to be a leading next-generation tire maker in this arena, producing class-leading technology and delivering cutting-edge products like the Ventus R-S3 and Ventus Z214 to meet the demands of enthusiast consumers.”
Details of Hankook’s 2010 contingency rewards programs for SCCA and NASA members will be announced in January.
For more information, visit www.hankooktireusa.com.
