In 2025, the WRC will experience a small technical revolution. Not only with the withdrawal of the controversial hybrid system, neglected with three seasons of controversies of all kinds, but also with the arrival of a new tire manufacturer: Hankook. The South Korean firm becomes the exclusive supplier to the World Rally Championship from 2025, replacing Pirelli in this position. A major change which, even if it is accompanied by numerous questions and doubts about the performance of these new compounds, will have the merit of shaking up everyone’s certainties.
Like Pirelli in its time, Hankook will use a specific color code on the sidewalls of its tires to identify the different compounds that will be available and used depending on the terrain. Thus, the tires intended for asphalt – the model called Ventus – will have an orange sidewall, the Dynapro rubbers for dirt/gravel rallies will have a yellow sidewall, and the I’cept and I’Pike tires intended for snowy roads will have blue sides. Unfortunately, as was also the case for Pirelli rubber, there will be no visual distinction between soft tires and hard tires for Ventus and Dynapro rubber.
© Hankook
Will Hankook be able to answer the doubts?
Hankook, which signed a three-season contract in the WRC until 2027, has had a relatively limited period to develop its tires for the premier category, with only one year between the formalization of the partnership with the WRC (in December 2023). and the first meeting of the 2025 season, at the Monte-Carlo Rally (January 23-26). Despite a short experience in ERC since 2023, the South Korean manufacturer was only able to benefit from around ten test sessions organized in 2024 with the three manufacturers present in Rally1. However, the discipline is not worried about Hankook’s lack of experience.
-“We have already established a successful partnership with Hankook for the ERC and we are particularly pleased to now extend it to the WRC, rejoices Jona Siebel, Managing Director of WRC Promoter GmbH, ahead of the start of the 2025 season. Hankook has worked hard to develop tires that meet the specific requirements of the WRC and we are already looking forward to seeing the premiere at the Monte-Carlo Rally in January. »
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